A NEXT-GEN “mini drone” that can fly through heavy winds has been snapped up by the British Army.
The tiny spy drone has been named the “Bug” – and can spy on enemies up to 2km away.
Built by British firm BAE Systems, the Bug weighs just under 200g and is small enough to sit on a palm.
That’s a similar weight to an average smartphone.
But it’s a mean machine, capable of flying for 40 minutes while recording and live-streaming footage.
It means British soldiers can get a heads-up on enemy movements and fortifications without alerting the other side.
According to BAE, the Bug drone is capable of flying in winds of up to 50mph.
The green camouflaged bug has a “stealthy” design, and is intentionally small to avoid detection.
“In even the toughest weather, the Bug can deliver vital tactical intelligence on what’s around the corner or over the next hill,” said BAE’s James Gerard.
“Working autonomously to give troops a visual update.”
“This video feed could be shared multi-domain, enabling commanders on land, sea and air to increase their situational awareness and inform their decisions.”
A total of 30 units have already been delivered to the British Army, and could be used in real combat situations in the future.
Future versions of the tiny unmanned drone are already being developed.
BAE says it’s investigating what other sensing equipment could be added – as well as how the Bug could be integrated with other types of military equipment.
In other news, here’s what the world could look like in 2050.
Check out these deadly kamikaze bomber drones.
And Japanese boffins have built an 18-metre-tall robot that can actually walk.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk