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It is the size of a cigarette packet and it could provide soldiers of the future with battleground intelligence at the flick of a joy stick.
The PD-100 Black Hornet 'nanocopter' is a long way from the remote control whirlybirds favoured by anorak-wearing model aeroplane enthusiasts.
They do not accelerate and decelerate like normal helicopters and, worst of all, they cannot hover.
Engineers behind the Black Hornet have developed a miniscule aircraft that will do all of those things, thanks to the 'smallest and lightest control servos in the world'.
Weighing in at just 0.5g, the tiny servos mean the PD-100 is even smaller than a toy battery helicopter.
Powered by an electric motor, the microcopter has 4in rotor blades, carries a tiny digital camera and flies at speeds of up to 20mph.
It has been tested successfully inside and outside in very light winds.
The helicopter can be carried in a pocket and launched within seconds to give immediate situational awareness,' said Petter Muren, boss of manufacturers Prox Dynamics.
'It will be valuable in situations where a closer look at a hostile area or inside a contaminated building is crucial.
'We will be making military and civilian versions of the Black Hornet but it will be sold only to governments and their agencies.'
If anything were to happen to the aircraft whether due to flat batteries, a crash or even a rolled-up newspaper, no matter - several cheap replacements could easily be carried.
The standard package will come with three aircraft, a pocket controller and a charger.
Bah, I want one.
