China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is aggressively pursuing autonomous and semi-autonomous combat technologies, including quadruped robot dogs, humanoid fighters, and AI-enabled support systems for logistics, reconnaissance, and direct battlefield engagement. These developments reflect Beijing’s strategic focus on what its military doctrine terms “intelligentized warfare,” signaling a dramatic leap in China’s battlefield automation capabilities.
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PLA Showcases Motion-Controlled Combat Robots
In November 2025, at the 12th International Army Cadets Week, China demonstrated a motion-controlled humanoid robot capable of mirroring a human soldier’s movements in real time. Using a motion-sensing suit, operators can replicate punches, defensive maneuvers, and other combat actions almost instantly—a system observers compared to the shadow-boxing robots from Real Steel. The event also featured mine-clearing robots, bomb-disposal drones, and AI training systems designed to identify weaknesses in human trainees and tailor exercises accordingly.
The Tiangong Ultra, a 1.8-meter humanoid robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, showcased the PLA’s emphasis on mobility and versatility. Able to run at 12 km/h over stairs, gravel, sand, and grass, the robot demonstrates the operational advantage of bipedal designs for navigating battlefield terrain, including ruins, staircases, and urban environments.
Humanoid Robots: Versatility and Strategic Utility
Wang Yonghua of the Academy of Military Science emphasized that humanoid robots can better replicate human activity, improve human-computer interaction, and perform complex tasks that other unmanned systems cannot. In recent PLA exercises, including the October 2025 amphibious landing drill, robot dogs carried explosives, transported ammunition, and supported paratroopers infiltrating hostile terrain. In Cambodia’s Golden Dragon 2024 exercise, robotic dogs led assaults on simulated terrorist targets, equipped with wide-angle sensors and even mounted firearms.
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Unitree Robotics and Military-Civil Fusion
Chinese civilian robotics company Unitree, known for affordable quadruped robots, has become deeply intertwined with the PLA. Although Unitree markets its products for civilian use, investigative reports confirm the firm’s machines have appeared in PLA exercises with mounted weapons. Unitree’s low-cost pricing, extensive sales to military-linked universities, and partnerships with Huawei, ZTE, and iFlytek have made its systems accessible for widespread adoption under Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy.
Four Key Roles for Robotic Dogs
Experts see four primary applications for these systems on the battlefield:
- Logistics and Resupply: Automated pack mules carrying ammunition, rations, and medical supplies, reducing soldier fatigue during combat missions.
- High-Risk Reconnaissance: Safe investigation of confined, mined, or booby-trapped terrain, decreasing human exposure to danger.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD): Robots equipped with sensors and manipulator arms to identify and neutralize threats.
- Perimeter Security and Surveillance: Continuous patrolling of sensitive installations, enabling prolonged monitoring without fatigue.
Sam Bendett, unmanned systems expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, notes that logistics remains the most immediate tactical use, with combat deployment expected to follow as AI integration improves.
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Strategic and Global Implications
China’s PLA is leveraging its civilian robotics sector to accelerate military applications, drawing on advancements in bipedal motion, balance, and AI. The rapid militarization of robots suggests that within years, humanoid and quadruped systems could take on frontline roles previously reserved for humans, reshaping the future of warfare. U.S. lawmakers and defense analysts are increasingly concerned that Beijing’s integration of commercial technology firms into the PLA could challenge America’s strategic advantage in autonomous warfare.
Conclusion
From ammunition carriers to humanoid soldiers, China’s PLA is pioneering robotics to redefine modern combat. As these programs advance, the international community faces the reality of AI-driven warfare, where robotic soldiers could operate alongside—and sometimes replace—human troops. The implications for battlefield strategy, defense planning, and global security are profound.
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