The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is testing four-legged robotic dogs armed with assault rifles during live-fire exercises, state media reported this week.
According to CCTV-7, China’s military television network, troops from the PLA’s 76th Group Army recently conducted a series of field exercises in a hilly region of northern China, showcasing the use of “robotic quadrupeds” in coordinated maneuvers alongside infantry squads.
“Unlike traditional support assets, these robotic systems can follow soldiers across complex terrain and provide firepower where human troops are most vulnerable,” a PLA instructor told CCTV during the broadcast.
The robots, resembling mechanical dogs, were shown carrying automatic rifles mounted on their backs as they advanced through grasslands and provided covering fire for PLA troops. In one segment, a team of soldiers maneuvered tactically while the robotic dogs crawled forward to engage notional targets.
PLA officials said the machines are designed to carry out reconnaissance missions, suppress enemy positions, and assist troops in close-quarters combat. The robots demonstrated the ability to navigate rough terrain, avoid obstacles, and maintain radio links with operators at a distance.
Chinese analysts suggest the pairing of drones and robotic ground systems represents a shift in PLA doctrine as it seeks to enhance battlefield awareness and lethality in contested environments. In addition to the quadruped robots, the exercises included small tactical drones providing overwatch and relaying targeting data to ground forces.
The drills took place in a border region near Russia, but Chinese media did not specify the exact location. The PLA’s increasing experimentation with unmanned systems comes amid efforts by the United States, Russia, and other militaries to field similar technologies.