BIRDS of prey are being trained to swoop in and take down illegal drones.

The winged warriors are sent up to strike the unmanned machines — used by criminals to fly and weapons.

Close-up of a brown raptor with a small camera attached to its head.Birds of prey are being trained to swoop in and take down illegal dronesCredit: AFP via Getty Images A man in military fatigues and helmet holds two brown eagles, one perched on his gloved hand and the other flying over it.Kites have cameras attached to their headsCredit: AFP via Getty Images

The Indian has used both eagles and black kites in anti-drone missions.

It has even mounted head cameras on the to record footage which can be reviewed afterwards.

The tech was on display in the capital New Delhi this week before Monday’s Republic Day parade.

India’s Remount Veterinary Corps, which is responsible for breeding, rearing and training all army animals, first tried using eagles to wipe out in 2022.

Chiefs found the birds would hunt the machines as if they were prey.

They then disabled the propellers with their talons, causing the drones to plunge to the ground.

An army report at the time stated: “The eagles have taken down several hundred of them in ­training.

“At times they destroyed them completely.”

“Since these are quadcopters, none of the eagles have been injured so far.”

The majority of the birds which have been involved in the anti-drone operations are rescued from captivity.