China has unveiled combat robotic dogs equipped with machine guns in a new display of its rapidly increasing military capabilities. A group of “robotic dogs” was showcased that can be remotely controlled and carry automatic rifles on their backs during joint military exercises with Cambodia earlier this month.
Operators demonstrated the mobility of their robots, not their firing capabilities. However, the presence of these robotic combat dogs shows how China is leading the race in developing intelligent technology that can alter dynamics on modern battlefields. The increased use of drones in the Ukrainian conflict highlights how technology is shaping the course of warfare, with armies relying on advanced weapons.
According to Axios, the robot appears to have been manufactured by Unitree, a Chinese company selling its products online at prices reaching thousands of dollars. The website reported that the U.S. Marine Corps Infantry forces developed a science-fiction-like robot carrying a missile launcher shaped like a goat, with the launcher mounted on the goat robot in the California desert last September to test its ability to carry and launch weapons in combat.
At that time, Major Aaron Safadi, who oversees the Emerging Technology Integration Division, said:
Instead of directly handling weapon systems and safety controls, we can apply remote control mechanisms that enable us to do all of that from a distance.
The soldier can be behind cover and concealed while the weapon system advances, and the soldier can control safety tools from a secure location, allowing the weapon system to get closer to the target.
