Amsterdam  - At 10-centimetres long and weighing 3 grammes, the world's smallest aeroplane was presented Thursday by scientists at the Technical University of Delft near The Hague.

Resembling a dragonfly, the so-called DelFly Micro is equipped with a camera and a mini-computer, and flies at a maximum speed of 5 metres per second or 18 kilometres per hour.

The tiny craft, which works by remote control, was designed by the Dutch scientists for reconnaissance in areas difficult or too dangerous to access. (dpa)