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China studies humanoid robots for combat roles
The Economic Times··7 Sept
China's military is accelerating research into humanoid robots for wartime use, Reuters found in more than 100 procurement notices and papers. Chinese makers accounted for about 95 percent of global humanoid shipments in 2025, BofA Global Research said. The PLA Daily urged faster transfer of lab technology to training grounds. Reuters found no armed humanoid in an operational PLA unit.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Humanoids remain energy-intensive and unreliable outside controlled demonstrations, researchers said.
- An August 2025 NUDT paper modelled six combat robots clearing a building with troops.
- The US Army last year launched a competition for militarized humanoid capabilities.
What's Happening
- Work gained momentum in 2025 and 2026 on robot perception, manipulation and training data.
- Two days after the World Humanoid Robot Games, PLA Daily called for faster military transfer.
- China's defense ministry and NUDT did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
What The Records Show
- Military institutions are testing humanoids against battlefield requirements and studying troop pairing.
- A July 2025 PLA Daily article discussed missions evolving from supporting toward primary combat.
- The US Army listed roles including reconnaissance, security, obstacle clearing and urban missions.
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