Inside Neiry: Russian startup using brain implants to turn pigeons into spy drones

Pigeons keep droning on and on in the sky, from one spot to another they map out expanses with just flapping. But in Russia, spotting a pigeon just doesn't mean looking at a bird, it means you might be being watched.

According to Neiry, a Moscow-based startup, the efficiency and versatility of modern drones is nothing when it comes to the range, endurance and access capabilities of pigeons, and now it wants to make use of the birds to enhance its surveillance tech innovations.

Pigeons as drones

Pigeons don't require batteries, can fly in any weather conditions and are plentiful in number. This has made the member of the bird family an ideal candidate for surveillance.

But while drones come with remote controls, pigeons fly on a whim and controlling them might be a futile task. But not for Neiry, the startup claims to have developed brain implants that allow its staff to remotely control the birds, transforming them into bio-drones.

The technology behind pigeon drones

How do these pigeon drones work? They insert small electrodes into the pigeon's brain through its skull and connect it to a simulator mounted on its head. The birds are also equipped with a solar backpack that has a controller and other electronics. Also present, is a chest-mounted camera for recording and surveillance purposes. The surgeons working on the operations use a stereotactic setup to place electrodes accurately in the brain, guaranteeing 100% survivability.

In a press release, Neiry explained that the controller receives a pre-loaded flight task akin to those used in aerial drones. The simulator sends impulses that make the bird turn left or right, with positioning provided by GPS and other navigation methods.

The startup claims its methods require pre-conditioning of the birds as "any animal becomes radio-controllable after the implantation operation."

Pigeon drones for sale?

The company is yet to offer its cyborg pigeons commercially. It compared the cost of bio drone construction to that of building an unmanned aerial vehicle. It's pigeons that top the chart with the ability to fly up to 300 miles per day without requiring a battery recharge and can operate in restricted airspace.

Additionally, expansion is the dream for startup founder Alexander Panov's project PJN-1. “Our long-term goal is to create the next human species after Homo sapiens — Homo superior,” he said.

Any bird can be implanted and controlled remotely, from ravens to seagulls. “Right now, the solution works on pigeons, but any bird can be a carrier,” said Panov. “To carry more payload, we plan to use ravens for monitoring coastal facilities—seagulls, and for large sea areas—albatrosses.”

Real-world tests and military future

The company announced early real-world trials of its bio-drones in December 2025. The tests conducted by teams in offices in Dubai and Moscow with flight evaluations in Russia and nearby countries aim to use biological carriers.

Neiry’s mission is listed on the site as “Viva Homo Perfectus: Advancing the next stage of human evolution with neurotechnology.” Homo Perfectus refers to a transhumanist concept aimed at enhancing the human body and overcoming biological limitations through technology.

From monitoring infrastructure to inspecting industrial sites and even assisting rescue missions for humans, Neiry claims bio drones can do it all. While they have not been advertised for covert surveillance or military missions, experts fear Putin's regime could pave the way, if the drones function as claimed.

Considering Neiry's major investor is the National Technology Initiative, a Russian NGO established by a decree of former prime minister Dmitry Medvedev on the President's instructions, the possibility seems more real than fiction. Additionally, the group is said to have invested about 360 million rubles ($4.7M) in 2021. However, the company has denied any links to the Russian government.

James Giordano, Pentagon science adviser and professor emeritus of neurology at Georgetown University, told Bloomberg that the “bio-drones” could, in theory, easily be used to transmit diseases into enemy territory.

According to Bloomberg, the pigeons have already found callings in Russia, Dubai and India. As per Panov, one of them is interested in using them to monitor power lines.

While animal welfare experts and bioethicists have raised concerns about using the birds "as products rather than living creatures," Panov's in-house bioethicists have found no issues. According to him, while the implants "partially limit agency" they are similar to other situations like milking a cow or riding a horse.

However, right now the project's fate is in the hands of the company itself. While it is one of the only such projects going on in the tech field right now, its success is yet to be seen.