Video: Chinese Army Flaunts Gun-Toting Robot Dogs At War Games

In China’s latest attempt at adaptation of robotics for the modern battlefield, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) flaunted gun-toting robot dogs during war games with the Cambodian army. The PLA showed off a robot dog with an automatic rifle mounted on its back and videos of its capabilities are now viral on social media.

The videos reminded many netizens of an episode from Black Mirror, an anthology series based on near-future dystopias with sci-fi technology, named Metalhead where armed robotic dogs were seen killing people in a desolate wasteland.

Chinese soldiers speaking to state-run media outlets appeared buzzed as their defence companies were able to turn man’s best (electronic) friend into a killing machine.

“It can serve as a new member in our urban combat operations, replacing our (human) members to conduct reconnaissance and identify (the) enemy and strike the target,” a soldier identified as Chen Wei was quoted as saying by state-run broadcaster CCTV.

The videos going viral on social media were possibly recorded during the China-Cambodia “Golden Dragon 2024” exercise. The robot dog is seen firing an semi-automatic rifle at a target and is also seen walking, hopping, lying down and moving backwards under the control of a remote operator.

It is also seen leading a small battalion in one war drill.

The use of robot dogs in military operations is not a novel concept. Mechanical canines have been making appearances in various military exercises for some time now.

Last year, state-run broadcasters showcased China’s rifle-armed robotic dogs during a joint exercise. This exercise, which took place in November, included the participation of military forces from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, all held within China’s borders. The United States has also been exploring the potential of robotic dogs in its defence systems.

In 2020, the US Air Force demonstrated a sophisticated use of these robots within its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). This system leverages artificial intelligence and rapid data analytics to detect and counter threats to US military assets, with robotic dogs serving as a crucial link in this network.

The robotic dogs are getting attention for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on China’s tightly regulated social media platforms, generating considerable public interest over the past year.

According to the state-run Global Times report which cited an unnamed expert, the inclusion of these robotic dogs in joint military exercises with foreign forces suggests that they are at an advanced stage of development.