Members of China’s Jiaolong Commandos, a maritime special operations units, are seen using multiple types of bird-like drones in newly emerged videos. The scenes may look ripped straight from a Hollywood action thriller or a new Call of Duty installment, but the idea of drones that mimic birds is not new in China or elsewhere around the world. Coupled with advances in miniaturized sensors and other new developments, biomimetic uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) could have real operational benefits, including being able to surveil enemy forces or execute kamikaze attacks, and do so with less of a chance of being detected.

The founder of the company seeking to build a successor to Concorde has hit back at “flight shaming” activists who are demanding an end to mass air travel.