They could be termed as tiny spies in the skies. Weighing just 300 gms

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and 300 millimetres long, Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) developed by India's aerospace scientists have a variety of applications, mainly in surveillance and disaster management.

These vehicles have a range of two to five kms, fly some 100 to 200 metres above ground for 30-40 minutes and take pictures of what's happening.

Significantly, they are not easily susceptible to radar detection as they are "not all of metal" and carbon fibres are used in making them, says Lt. Gen (Dr) V J Sundaram, one of the key scientists behind its conception.

In a typical battlefield scenario, MAVs come in handy as they can be sent a couple of kms ahead to survey the area where they would make an aerial circle, take images and come back, scientists said.

"It (an MAV) may be of the order of Rs seven lakh to Rs eight lakh, with 30 to 40 per cent of the cost being sensors", Sundaram, a former Director of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), told PTI here.

MAVs, capable of carrying mission-specific sensors, are like any other (normal) aircraft -- they have navigation, control and guidance. "It rolls on the ground. It can fly also. Everything can be done".