China is preparing humanoid robots for war: ‘They are faster than Usain Bolt, they will flood the battlefields!’

That China is seriously considering the military application of humanoid robots became clear after the recently held World Games of Humanoid Robots in China. At the competition, the robots ran, jumped, boxed and danced, and some were faster than Usain Bolt at 100 meters. Just two days after the end of the Games, the official newspaper of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army called on researchers to accelerate the transfer of the latest technologies from laboratories to military training facilities to develop robotic “fighters”.

Robots could go where humans can’t

In recent years, Chinese military institutions have been increasingly researching how humanoid robots can function in real combat conditions. Special attention is paid to their ability to perceive, move, handle objects and collect data necessary for their training.

One of the possible scenarios refers to urban battles. According to a 2025 Chinese military research paper, a group of six “battle robots,” humanoid robots, robotic dogs, or unmanned vehicles, could clear an enemy building, floor by floor and room by room, together with soldiers.

Other scenarios include reconnaissance, security patrols, identity verification, logistics and hazardous area operations.

Humanoid robots could be especially useful in spaces like buildings, tunnels and ships because, unlike robots on wheels or tracks, they have two legs and two arms and could theoretically walk, climb and handle objects in a more human-like manner. For simpler tasks, such as transporting equipment or reconnaissance, experts still believe that robotic or robotic systems on wheels would be cheaper and easier for mass use.

China moreć acquires technology for military application

Chinese interest did not remain only in scientific works. In May 2025, the Chinese military announced a tender for the procurement of a humanoid robot, complete with installation and technical training. A few months later, a competition for a system that would enable a humanoid robot to have advanced perception and precise handling of objects appeared, writes Reuters.

In June of this year, the Chinese army allocated about 300,000 dollars for a system for collecting and marking data from cameras, radars and motion sensors. The goal is to collect data that would help robots learn how to navigate different terrains. At the same time, Reuters could not determine whether all the tenders were realized, which companies won them, and which robot models were eventually delivered.

‘From supporting the fight to the primary fight’

Chinese military comments već they are openly considering the possibility that humanoid robots will one day get a direct combat role. An article published in the PLA Daily last year stated that their tasks could evolve “from combat support to primary combat.” It was also discussed how robots could be given permission to open fire on a target previously identified by a human.

In one scenario presented by the Chinese military, robots were even shown to overpower Taiwan’s defenses in a hypothetical future conflict. However, China does not yet have humanoid robots that would be part of operational military units. Reuters has found no evidence that the armed humanoid robot is larger. deployed in the Chinese army.

A big problem is still autonomy

Humanoid robots still have serious limitations. They use a lot of energy, find it difficult to navigate outside of controlled conditions and can have problems with unpredictable situations. This is exactly why remote control is one of the possibilities.

The Chinese defense company Norinco has developed a humanoid robot Fuxi, which, according to the company’s materials, can perform guarding tasks, scout in different weather conditions and conduct patrols.

The robot can be connected to a system that allows a human to control it remotely. Such an approach could solve one of the biggest problems of fully autonomous robots, their ability to make decisions in unpredictable situations.

– At the moment, I don’t see humanoid robots as practical battlefield systems. But in five to ten years they could very easily become that – said Malcolm Davis, an analyst at the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy.

China dominates the humanoid robot market

At the same time, the Chinese army has a great advantage, the domestic industry, which is developing at a high speed.

Chinese manufacturers accounted for about 95 percent of global shipments of humanoid robots in 2025, according to data from BofA Global Research. This means that the army can count on an ever-increasing base of domestic products and technologies.

Humanoid robots are becoming an increasingly important part of the global race in the development of autonomous military systems. The war in Ukraine has shown how much artificial intelligence and semi-autonomous drones can change the way reconnaissance and attacks are carried out, while robotic systems are increasing. they are also used for transporting equipment and extracting the wounded.

China is now trying to take the next step, which is to develop robots that could physically operate in the space where the fight is taking place.

But a certain amount of time still needs to pass before that. Technological progress, more reliable systems, longer battery life, lower production costs and the possibility of producing large quantities of robots are needed.

Chinese military research Wang Yonghua wrote that humanoid robots still have unsolved problems with movement, perception and “intelligence”. If these problems are solved, he concluded, “humanoid robots will flood the battlefield”.