Khaberni - Media reports revealed a controversial Russian technical project aimed at developing electronic chips implanted in birds' brains, specifically pigeons, for use in surveillance and espionage missions, a step that could represent a significant leap in unconventional reconnaissance methods.
Neural chips in bird brains
The project, code-named PJN-1, is being developed by an emerging Russian technology company backed heavily by the Kremlin, according to the website «express». The birds are equipped with neural chips implanted in the brain, alongside small cameras mounted on their bodies within units resembling miniature «backpacks».
According to the company, this technology allows operators to direct the flight path of the bird as needed, by gently stimulating specific areas in the brain, which prompts the bird to favor a certain direction without affecting its natural behavior. The company stated that the bird continues to fly normally, while the system's role is limited to guiding it toward a pre-determined path.
Russia develops a «Spy Pigeon» equipped with brain chips and hidden cameras
A pigeon equipped with a control unit
The company Neiry Group notes that initial tests included a pigeon equipped with a small control unit, solar panels mounted on the back, and cameras similar to those used in public surveillance systems.
The company confirmed that any images captured are processed directly on the device itself, with details that could identify individuals filtered out, in compliance with local privacy laws.
The company promotes its project as an effective alternative to traditional drones, explaining that the biological carriers do not require batteries or frequent landings, and that their flight nature makes them suitable for long-range missions, as they can cover distances up to 400 kilometers daily without stopping.
The company added that the project's goal is to use living organisms in environments where drones face limitations related to range, weight, or the ability to remain undetected.
Future plans to use crows
In this context, the company's CEO, Alexander Panov, stated that the current technology works on pigeons, «but any type of bird could be used as a carrier», pointing to future plans to use crows for carrying larger loads, seagulls for monitoring coastal installations, and albatrosses for surveillance tasks in extensive maritime regions.
The company is currently evaluating potential civil applications for the technology, which include inspecting infrastructure, supporting search and rescue operations, monitoring coasts and the environment, and surveilling remote areas. However, the project's association with the military sector raises widespread concerns.
Support from the Kremlin
Reports indicate that Neiry Group receives significant funding from the Kremlin, estimated at about £10 million, a substantial portion of which comes through the National Technology Initiative, a program launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014 to enhance Russian leadership in advanced technology fields.
Panov is known for his public support of the Russian war in Ukraine, and has previously called for new means to give the Russian military a superiority in battlefields now dominated by drones. His previous statements about his ambition to develop a superior type of human called Homo Superior, have been considered by many as troubling.
