Targeted bio delivery systems, nanorobot swarms among weaponized tools being studied

The Chinese military is building sophisticated biological weapons and small-scale electronic tools made with nanotechnology that could be used in future covert warfare, a major new study warns.

"China's invisible arsenals encompass a range of advanced weaponry that are distinctly focused on providing the Chinese Communist Party with a range of asymmetric warfare options, including the delivery of biological, biochemical and neurobiological weapons on target populations," according to a report by three open-source intelligence analysts.

The People's Liberation Army, or PLA, is developing nanoweapons using highly sophisticated microscopic materials that enhance the effects of biological weapons, according to the report, titled "In the Shadows of Science: Unravelling China's Invisible Arsenals of Nanoweapons." It was made public earlier this month.

It warns that Chinese advancements in biotechnology raise new fears about dual-use, civilian-military applications to produce genetically engineered pathogens for biological warfare, including difficult-to-trace bioweapons.

Additional nanotechnology weapons in development include miniature electronics and sensors in nano-devices for conducting data theft and disrupting critical infrastructure without detection.