Russian State Tech Firm UIMC Designing ‘Dragonfly-Sized’ Spy Drones

Russia’s United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC) is designing several types of drones that will come in different forms and will be fine-tuned to perform tasks depending on the landscape and weather conditions.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia’s United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), a state tech firm, is working on a tiny reconnaissance drone that will be small enough to fit in one hand, its press office said Thursday.

"This miniature helicopter will be the size of a dragonfly. It will be small enough to fit in one hand, basically a pocket-sized drone. It will be next to inaudible, easy to operate and very maneuverable," the company said in a press release.

UIMC is designing several types of drones that will come in different forms and will be fine-tuned to perform tasks depending on the landscape and weather conditions.

According to the press release, the micro drone will have a short operational range and play a role in battlefield reconnaissance, police and counter-terrorism operations, while its low cost will make it expendable.

It will take just a minute to activate and will be able to stream sound and high-resolution video footage to the operator. An operator will require just minimum training, the press release said.

The Russian drone will resemble the PD-100 Black Hornet, a Norwegian UAV which is the world’s smallest drone in use by several NATO allies, including US Marines.