China Deploys Armed Robot Dogs and FPV Drones in Amphibious Drill Near Taiwan

Milivox analysis: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has publicly demonstrated the integration of armed quadruped robot dogs and first-person-view (FPV) loitering drones during a recent amphibious assault exercise near Taiwan. This marks a significant milestone in China’s effort to fuse AI-enabled robotics with combined arms operations—raising both technical interest and regional security concerns.

Background

On November 10, 2025, Chinese state media released footage of the Eastern Theater Command conducting a joint amphibious assault drill involving special operations forces on an undisclosed coastal training ground. The exercise featured several emerging unmanned platforms including armed quadruped robots—commonly referred to as “robot dogs”—and FPV drones configured for close-range attack roles.

The drill was reportedly organized to simulate an island seizure operation under contested conditions. While official sources did not explicitly mention Taiwan, the Eastern Theater Command is responsible for operations involving the Taiwan Strait. The inclusion of robotic systems aligns with broader PLA modernization efforts under the “Intelligentized Warfare” doctrine promoted by President Xi Jinping since 2019.

Technical Overview

The quadruped robots used in the drill appear to be variants developed by Ziguang Zhenxing Company (紫光振兴公司), a commercial robotics firm based in China. These units resemble Boston Dynamics’ Spot platform but are equipped with integrated weapon mounts capable of carrying small arms such as QBZ-191 or QBZ-95 series rifles.

Mobility: Capable of traversing stairs and uneven terrain; estimated endurance of up to 2 hours on battery power.
Weaponization: Footage shows one unit equipped with an automatic rifle mounted dorsally; likely remote-controlled rather than fully autonomous fire control.
Sensors: Integrated EO/IR cameras and LiDAR for navigation; no confirmed targeting autonomy.
C2 Integration: Operated via secure handheld controller; unclear if integrated into broader C4ISR architecture.

The accompanying FPV drones are consistent with low-cost quadcopters modified for kamikaze-style attacks. These systems mirror Ukrainian battlefield adaptations seen since early 2023—suggesting rapid doctrinal cross-pollination between global conflicts. The Chinese variants were deployed from mobile launchers mounted on Type-05 amphibious IFVs during the exercise.

Operational or Strategic Context

This demonstration underscores Beijing’s growing emphasis on unmanned combat systems within its strategic planning for potential conflict scenarios involving Taiwan or other regional flashpoints. By integrating robot dogs into dismounted infantry formations and pairing them with loitering munitions launched from armored vehicles, the PLA is experimenting with multi-domain synergy at the tactical edge.

The use of quadrupeds could enhance urban warfare capabilities by allowing remote room clearing or surveillance ahead of manned teams—a tactic already explored by U.S., South Korean, and Israeli forces using similar platforms like Ghost Robotics’ Vision series or Hyundai’s SPOT-based derivatives. However, unlike Western counterparts that emphasize ISR roles or EOD support, China appears willing to arm these platforms directly for lethal engagements.

This shift raises questions about autonomy thresholds and rules-of-engagement protocols within PLA doctrine. While current versions are likely teleoperated during live fire missions, future iterations may incorporate limited AI-based target recognition—a capability China has been actively researching through its military-civil fusion programs.

Market or Industry Impact

The public debut of armed quadrupeds signals China’s intent to accelerate domestic production lines for robotic combatants. Ziguang Zhenxing Company has previously showcased civilian-use robot dogs at trade shows but now appears aligned with defense procurement pipelines—potentially joining other dual-use firms like Unitree Robotics and DeepRobotics in supporting military applications.

Export Potential: Given China’s track record of exporting low-cost UAVs (e.g., CH-series), robot dog variants may be marketed to partner states lacking access to Western equivalents due to ITAR restrictions.
Tactical Experimentation: The PLA’s willingness to test these systems in combined arms drills suggests they are moving beyond lab trials toward fieldable concepts—possibly leading to formal unit-level integration by late this decade.
Saturation Tactics: FPV drone swarms remain cost-effective tools for anti-armor ambushes or soft-target suppression; their pairing with robotic scouts could create new layered threat models requiring novel countermeasures from adversaries such as Taiwan or Japan.

Milivox Commentary

“The combination of armed quadrupeds and kamikaze drones reflects a convergence between commercial robotics innovation and military operational art,” notes Milivox Robotics Analyst Marta Veyron. “While current capabilities remain rudimentary compared to manned systems or high-end UGVs like Milrem’s THeMIS or Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SPX, China’s approach is notable for its speed-to-field experimentation.”

This development also highlights a broader trend toward distributed lethality via expendable autonomous agents—a concept gaining traction across NATO militaries but being operationalized more aggressively by non-Western actors unconstrained by ethical debate over lethal autonomy thresholds.

If scaled effectively within battalion-level formations supported by robust C4ISR links—including BeiDou GNSS integration—the PLA could field semi-autonomous hunter-killer teams capable of operating in GPS-denied environments across island chains or urban chokepoints. That would mark a disruptive evolution not only in tactics but also in force structure planning across Asia-Pacific theaters.