China and India Show Off Rival Bird Tech

China and India have showcased their new bird technology in a world transformed by drone warfare.

The Indian Army recently displayed an innovative fusion of military prowess and technology at a joint India-Japan Army team engaged in the “Dharma Guardian” military exercise in India’s Rajasthan, showcasing the use of a kite, a bird of prey from the eagle family, trained for anti-drone activities and surveillance missions.

“Witness the seamless synergy between the troops of #IndianArmy & #JGSDF, training together for a mission,” the Indian Army said on X, formerly Twitter, on March 4.

This military exercise underlines the growing trend of militaries worldwide incorporating nature-inspired solutions to modern warfare challenges, particularly in the realm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Drone warfare has transformed warfare in the Russia-Ukraine war as the proliferation of drone technology has also led to new anti-drone technology to intercept and shoot down advanced UAVs.

The world’s militaries are looking for innovative solutions to counter new technologies that can intercept drones by developing bird-based (or orthology-inspired technology) that can evade detection and allow reconnaissance.

During the military exercise with Japan, the Indian Army showcased two trained eagles named “Arjun” and “Deep.”

“‘Arjun’ and ‘Deep’ have been trained to intercept drones and provide live feed with a head-mounted camera system connected via secure communication to ground stations,” the Indian newspaper The Tribune reported on Wednesday.

Birds like “Arjun” and “Deep” offer stealthier options for surveillance and interception tasks, navigating complex terrains without attracting attention, a critical advantage over conventional drones detectable by enemy radars.

The Indian Army has previously demonstrated the bird’s capability during U.S.-India military exercises.

The Indian Army previously utilized the trained kite (eagle), named “Arjun,” during the Yuddh Abhyas exercise with the United States in Uttarakhand’s Auli in November 2022. Footage from the drills captured Arjun skillfully intercepting a quadcopter drone, underscoring the bird’s precision and effectiveness in such missions.

“Indian Army troops are using trained kites to prey on enemy drones in a first-of-its-kind usage of these birds. [The] Indian Army is using trained kites along with dogs for military operations,” Indian Army officials told the Indian news agency ANI in November 2022.

The collaboration between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) demonstrates a remarkable blend of traditional and cutting-edge military tactics.

“The eagles have taken down several hundred of them (quadcopters) in training, at times destroying them completely. Since these are quadcopters, none of the eagles have been injured so far,” Indian media outlet The Print reported, citing military sources on November 30, 2022.

This innovative setup enables the birds to provide live feedback to ground stations, marking a significant advancement in integrating biological capabilities with technological enhancements.

Meanwhile, China has been developing its military technology inspired by orthology and a bird’s flight capability.

The researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University have been working on an ornithopter named “Little Falcon.” This bird-like drone, tested in Xi’an, represents the forefront of UAV design, capable of military reconnaissance, among other applications.

The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV recently showed a new drone resembling a bird.

The robotic bird’s nimble flight controls were made possible by the invention of a new crank mechanism, the CCTV report said, allowing the drone to fold its wings while flapping at the same time, Newsweek reported on March 4.

“Such aircraft are suitable for reconnaissance, surveillance and even precision strike missions in special operations,” China’s nationalistic newspaper, the Global Times, said last week about the potential use of the new technology.

The initiative to train birds for military purposes comes in response to the growing threat posed by combat drones, which can execute airborne assaults in border and conflict zones.

“The Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre in Meerut has been quietly training black eagles and falcons to take down quadcopters—a type of helicopter with four rotors, now a popular design for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones—in the air,” The Print reported.