China’s humanoid robots are already running, boxing, and dancing in front of audiences at competitions. Now the military is planning to use them for patrols, attacks, and operations inside buildings.
China is preparing humanoid robots for potential combat missions. Military researchers are designing scenarios for urban combat, reconnaissance, and operations behind enemy lines.
This is according to a report by the Reuters news agency, based on an analysis of more than 100 tenders, studies, patents, and government documents. According to the report, the work gained significant momentum in 2025 and 2026. So far, however, there is no evidence that armed humanoid robots are already being deployed in active units of the Chinese army.
Humanoid Robots for Urban Combat and Patrols
As early as August 2025, researchers at the National University of Defense Technology in Xi’an described an urban combat scenario involving six “combat robots.” Humanoid machines, robot dogs, and unmanned vehicles were to work alongside soldiers to clear an occupied building room by room. The authors believed such technology would be available within five to ten years.
In July 2025, the Chinese military newspaper “PLA Daily” wrote that the deployment of humanoid robots could evolve “from combat support to primary combat.” The article also mentioned attacks on live targets, provided a human had previously confirmed the target.
Two days after the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, the newspaper also called for new technology to be moved more quickly from laboratories to military training grounds. At the games in Beijing, humanoid robots ran sprint races, boxed, and danced in front of spectators.
Tests for Operations Behind Enemy Lines
Military interest began to grow as early as 2024. At that time, the National University of Defense Technology and the Academy of Military Sciences hosted a forum on military applications of humanoid systems. This was followed in June 2025 by a competition in which robots were tasked with infiltrating enemy lines, mapping an area, and locating targets.
Railway tenders also confirm this direction. In May 2025, the People’s Liberation Army sought a humanoid robot, including installation and training. According to Reuters, in June 2026 the military budgeted the equivalent of approximately 260,000 euros for a system that collects and analyzes camera, radar, and motion data for such machines.
Many Technical Hurdles Remain
The state-owned defense contractor Norinco presented material on its humanoid robot, Fuxi, in August. The system is designed to perform guard duty, conduct reconnaissance in all weather conditions, and carry out dangerous tasks. It can be remotely controlled.
Such machines are still considered vulnerable. They consume a lot of energy and often perform unreliably outside of controlled demonstrations. According to Reuters, robotics expert Dennis Hong of UCLA said, “Going to places where we don’t want to send humans is one of the most compelling reasons to develop robots in the first place.” Analyst Malcolm Davis does not expect practical weapons systems to be available today. “But in five to ten years, they very well could be,” he said.
