China’s Military Training Just Got Insane: Drones That Fly Like Birds and Soldiers Zooming on Skateboards

A soldier throws a bird into the sky. Soon after, forces arrive on jet surfboards and reach enemy territory. Then, the soldiers immediately ride electric skateboards to move into the enemy’s area.

The described scene is part of a training exercise to commemorate the ​Celebrating the 97th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Liberation Army. They showcased a special forces unit of the Chinese Navy, known as the Jiaolong Commandos. However, the bird thrown into the air is not actually a bird; it’s a drone that flaps its wings like a bird. It is used to gather enemy positions in real-time. Such flying vehicles that mimic the flying techniques of birds or insects are called “ornithopters.”

The ongoing war in Ukraine has sparked increased global interest in cheap, high-efficiency weapons like drones. For instance, the U.S. Army has requested $2.4 billion for low-cost drone development in its 2025 budget proposal. This highlights how drones are transforming the vision of future warfare.