China’s People’s Liberation Army has publicly fielded quadrupedal armed robots for the first time, state broadcaster CCTV-7 and the Global Times reported. Footage from a drill aired this week shows the so-called “robot wolves” advancing alongside infantry in a live-fire exercise, marking their combat debut in PLA training. The manoeuvres, conducted by the 76th Group Army in hilly grasslands of northern China, integrated human soldiers, first-person-view reconnaissance drones and the four-legged robots. The 70-kilogram machines carried QBZ-191 assault rifles or surveillance payloads, providing reconnaissance, precision fire and covering support during breakthrough operations. Developer China South Industries Group says the robots can climb ladders, negotiate rough terrain and operate in coordinated formations. A participating officer, Hu Te, told state media that frontline units aim to blend the newly commissioned unmanned platforms with traditional tactics to raise combat effectiveness. Military analysts quoted by Chinese media argue that ground robots could exert greater psychological pressure than aerial drones by advancing relentlessly despite casualties, potentially reshaping battlefield dynamics. The demonstration underscores Beijing’s accelerating push to integrate autonomous systems across its armed forces as major powers race to weaponise robotics.