China prepares humanoid robots for war: What they can do
PLA prepares humanoid robots for war (photo: Unsplash)
China is preparing humanoid robots for use in warfare — the military is already studying how to adapt them to modern combat, according to Reuters.
Urban assault tactics and integration into combat units
According to documents from defense institutes, including the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), China is already modeling scenarios for combat operations in urban environments.
In such operations, assault teams could consist of a combination of infantry and combat robots that would clear buildings together.
Thanks to their anatomy — two arms and two legs — humanoid robots could theoretically combine mobility, climbing, and object manipulation in confined spaces such as ships, tunnels, or urban buildings.
In addition, development efforts cover:
- systematic testing of conditions for infiltrating behind enemy lines and mapping terrain;
- collecting and labeling data on radars, terrain and sensor performance (in June, the People’s Liberation Army allocated significant funding for this);
- remote control (teleoperation) — for example, the Fuxi robot developed by state-owned conglomerate Norinco can conduct patrols and reconnaissance under the control of a human operator, partially addressing the challenge of full autonomy.
Global arms race and ethical concerns
China’s robotics sector accounts for around 95 percent of global humanoid robot supplies, giving the military a powerful industrial base.
Similar programs are also being developed in the United States: last year, the U.S. Army launched its own competition to develop militarized humanoid systems for reconnaissance and security, although the American industry currently lags behind Chinese manufacturers such as Unitree.
At the same time, experts and international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, are highlighting serious ethical challenges.
Autonomous or semi-autonomous systems may face difficulties when identifying civilians, signs of surrender or the condition of wounded people.
Despite this, Chinese military analysts predict that if costs fall and further technical breakthroughs are made in AI development, humanoid machines will eventually take their place on the battlefield.
