China Accelerates Push to Develop Humanoid Robots for the Battlefield

China’s military researchers are increasingly examining whether humanoid robots could one day operate alongside soldiers, drawing on rapid progress in the country’s commercial robotics industry.

A Reuters review of more than 100 military procurement notices, research papers, patents and other records found that Chinese institutions are studying how humanoids might meet battlefield requirements. Work accelerated during 2025 and 2026, covering robotic perception, manipulation and the data required to train the machines. The scenarios under consideration include operations inside buildings, reconnaissance and infiltration behind enemy lines.

The research push follows increasingly advanced public demonstrations. At the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing in August, more than 2,000 robots from 666 teams competed in 51 events, including athletics and workplace and emergency-response tasks. Tiangong Ultra completed the 100 metres in 8.64 seconds, highlighting progress in balance, mobility and control.

The competition also tested practical capabilities such as handling charging equipment, organising workplace materials and carrying out office tasks autonomously. Military researchers are examining whether similar improvements could eventually allow robots to enter environments considered too dangerous for troops.

There is no evidence that China has deployed an armed humanoid robot with an operational People’s Liberation Army unit. Current machines still require large amounts of energy and struggle to respond reliably to unpredictable surroundings. Norinco, China’s state-owned defence group, has presented Fuxi, a full-sized humanoid intended for duties including patrol and reconnaissance. Company material says a human can operate it remotely, keeping a controller involved rather than leaving every decision to an autonomous system.