Lingxi, a PLA EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) robot, shows grabbing skills in a military training field in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong province. (Photo/GZ.81.CN)
China’s People’s Liberation Army is developing and field-testing a range of combat robotics, including quadruped robot dogs, motion-controlled humanoid fighters, and AI-enabled support systems designed for logistics, reconnaissance, and direct battlefield engagement.
These platforms reflect Beijing’s push toward autonomous and semi-autonomous warfare under what Chinese military doctrine calls “intelligentized warfare.”
China showcased a motion-controlled military combat robot capable of mirroring human soldiers’ movements in real time using artificial intelligence during the 12th International Army Cadets Week in November 2025, an event organized by the PLA Army Engineering University and attended by cadets and defense representatives from 13 countries.
Operated through a motion-sensing suit worn by a human controller, the robot replicates punches, defensive maneuvers, and other actions almost instantly.
Observers compared the system to the shadow-boxing robots depicted in the film Real Steel.
The event featured a range of AI-enabled military systems, including mine-clearing robots using visual recognition combined with metal detectors and bomb-disposal robots controlled solely by voice commands.
Observers noted current limitations in long-range sensing but suggested these could be addressed through further AI integration in assault and reconnaissance roles.
Instructors demonstrated AI applications in military training, including virtual battlefields and systems that identify weaknesses in trainees to generate training plans.
China is pursuing humanoid robotics as a strategic priority driven by Xi Jinping’s call for “new quality productive forces.” Seven ministries led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a list of innovative products that would be part of these “new quality products.”
Two researchers at the PLA Information Engineering University test how to control robots with
Morgan Stanley reported that Chinese companies hold 63 percent of the global humanoid robot supply chain.
The Tiangong Ultra, a 1.8-meter robot developed by the state-backed Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, won the world’s first half-marathon for humanoid robots in Beijing in March 2025.
The 5-foot-4, 95-pound robot can run up to 12 kmph and traverse slopes, stairs, grass, gravel, and sand, demonstrating the advantages of a bipedal design in navigating battlefield environments such as ruins and staircases.
Wang Yonghua, a scholar with the Operational Theories and Regulations Department of the Academy of Military Science, wrote that PLA strategists see three primary advantages to deploying humanoid robots on the battlefield, with versatility first.
“Compared with other unmanned systems, humanoid robots are closer to humans in shape and structure, can simulate various human activities, better realize human-computer interaction, and are more suitable for replacing humans to complete complex tasks.”
In an October 2025 amphibious landing exercise aired by state broadcaster CCTV, the PLA deployed four-legged robots loaded with explosives in the first wave of landing forces.
The robots ran across ditches, blocks and barricades on the beachhead to clear passages. Another robot dog with a machine gun accompanied paratroopers advancing through jungle to infiltrate enemy rear positions.
Throughout the operation, robot dogs served as ammunition transporters for soldiers in scattered positions while reconnaissance drones monitored the battlefield and first-person-view unmanned aerial vehicles struck enemy firing positions.
During the Golden Dragon 2024 joint exercise with Cambodia, the PLA deployed two robotic dogs weighing 15 kg and 50 kg.
The smaller model was equipped with a 4D wide-angle sensing system, while the larger robot carried an assault rifle and was used in a simulated urban environment to lead an assault on a building where mock terrorists were positioned.
Close-up footage from the exercise showed the logo of Unitree Robotics’ “Go2” model.
Unitree, a Chinese robotics firm based in Hangzhou, markets its products primarily for civilian use and has publicly pledged against weaponization.
Despite this stance, investigations have found that the company maintains deep connections to the PLA through Chinese military-linked universities and procurement channels.
Unitree’s quadruped robots have appeared in PLA exercises equipped with mounted firearms and rockets, as documented in state media footage and procurement records showing their use in joint drills, urban combat simulations, and military training demonstrations.
Capable of carrying a machine gun, the small ground robot can traverse complicated terrains and replace human soldiers in dangerous reconnaissance missions. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television.
Although Unitree maintains that it does not sell directly to the military, it has sold extensively to Chinese universities that function as defense research and development hubs under Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy.
Many of these institutions hold classified defense licenses or appear on U.S. and allied export control lists for their involvement in missile development, weapons research, and PLA programs.
Unitree’s low-cost pricing model, with quadruped robots sold for under $3,000 compared to Boston Dynamics’ $75,000 Spot, further lowers barriers to widespread military adoption.
Unitree has partnered with firms such as Huawei, ZTE, and iFlytek, all of which face U.S. restrictions over national security and surveillance concerns.
These partnerships, combined with growing state subsidies and elite political access, have drawn warnings from U.S. lawmakers.
Analysts described Unitree as emblematic of the accelerating militarization of China’s economy, as Beijing integrates private technology firms into its military and strategic power projection.
Military experts identify four primary roles for robotic dogs, with logistics and resupply viewed as the most immediate application. Sam Bendett, an unmanned systems expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, noted that most militaries are “discussing logistics first and combat second” when evaluating unmanned ground vehicles, emphasizing that logistical support is the most practical use at the tactical level.
In this role, robotic dogs function as automated pack mules, carrying ammunition, rations, and medical equipment, easing the physical burden on soldiers who already carry an average of 68 pounds of gear, rising to as much as 120 pounds during combat missions.
A second role is high-risk reconnaissance in confined or hazardous environments, including tunnels, trenches, and mined or booby-trapped terrain, where close-quarters combat poses significant danger.
Robotic dogs can investigate and de-escalate such situations while operators remain at a safe distance.
A third application is explosive ordnance disposal, with robots equipped with high-precision sensors and manipulator arms capable of identifying, assessing, and neutralizing explosive threats.
The fourth role is persistent perimeter security and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance, with robotic dogs patrolling sensitive installations on automated schedules for extended periods without fatigue, performing routine but critical security tasks.
Much of China’s progress draws on its civilian robotics industry, which has made advances in humanoid balance, mobility, and motion control.
Although these robots remain in the demonstration phase, their sophistication suggests they could eventually take on tasks in environments too dangerous or challenging for human soldiers.
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