‘Spy’ eagles with head cameras being skilled to swoop in and destroy unlawful drones
A viral video showing a French Air Force eaglet trained from just three weeks old to hunt down rogue drones has wowed animal lovers and tech fans alike, but is has also sparked debate
The Indian Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) black kite with a surveillance camera fixed on its head at an army centre ahead of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 21, 2026(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A French Air Force eaglet has been trained to hunt down rogue drones. Footage of the military operation showed the strong bird being trained from just three weeks old to hunt the flying threats.
The dramatic display later featured the fully-grown eagle snatching a drone from mid-air in full flight. The video, which has been circulating on Threads, has captured the imagination of animal lovers and tech fans alike.
While the clip is labelled as featuring the French Air Force, it is unclear when the footage was filmed or whether the eaglet and the adult eagle shown are in fact the same bird. Nevertheless, it has sparked excitement.
“Whether it’s a drone or a seagull, a trained carnivore bird is the best repellent for any of them,” a Threads user exclaimed. A person commented: “That’s fire asf.”
Someone else penned: “Now that’s a raptor.” A separate individual chimed in: “That is a f brilliant idea.”
Other viewers slammed the method as “animal cruelty”, pointing to the potential of drones exploding. The French military, like most of the world, has since grounded its eagle squad in favour of high-tech anti-drone cannons, lasers, and AI-powered systems.
As of 2026, France’s golden eagles have been retired from frontline duty, with authorities citing safety risks, high costs, and the unpredictable nature of working with wild animals. Instead, the skies above Europe are now defended by cutting-edge tech, while only a handful of countries, like India, continue to deploy birds of prey for drone defence.
In India, both eagles and black kites have been deployed by the army for anti-drone operations, with some birds even fitted with head-mounted cameras to capture their aerial missions for later analysis, The Sun reported. The innovative tactic was showcased in New Delhi this week ahead of the Republic Day parade.
India’s Remount Veterinary Corps, in charge of all military animals, reportedly began experimenting with eagles for drone interception in 2022. Commanders soon observed that the birds instinctively hunted the drones as if they were prey, using their talons to disable the propellers and send the devices crashing down.
According to an army report: “The eagles have taken down several hundred of them in training. At times they destroyed them completely.”
The report also noted: “Since these are quadcopters, none of the eagles have been injured so far.” Most of the birds recruited for these missions are rescues, giving them a new lease on life as high-flying defenders.
The use of eagles to intercept rogue drones has been largely abandoned by police and military forces around the world. While India remains one of the few countries still expanding the use of birds of prey, its “Garuda Squad” trains eagles and hawks to tackle drones at major public events, and most nations like France have moved on.
Switzerland’s Geneva police disbanded their “eagle brigade” in 2022 after five years, citing unpredictable results and concerns for the birds’ welfare. Additionally, the Dutch National Police, pioneers in the field, ended their programme in 2017 due to high costs and the birds’ unreliability in real-world scenarios.
Despite the decline of such experimental initiatives, animals still play a vital role in security worldwide. For instance, dogs remain indispensable for detection, patrol, and forensics.
Meanwhile, horses are used for crowd control and search and rescue, Furthermore, marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions assist with underwater security.
Specialised creatures such as honey bees, giant pouched rats, monkeys, elephants, and camels continue to serve in niche roles. But the latest wave of innovation sees “robot dogs” being deployed by police for dangerous missions.
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