China’s Big, Bad, Gun-Slinging Robot Dogs—and the Future of War

In recent military drills with Cambodia, China unleashed a slew of robotic “dogs” that are equipped with rifles, primed and ready to take on urban combat operations for Beijing. Footage of the menacing machines in action have offered a glimpse into a future where robots can replace manpower in times of war—and stirred debate about what the United States could be up against in a conflict with China.

“It can serve as a new member in our urban combat operations, replacing our members to conduct reconnaissance and identify [the] enemy and strike the target,” a Chinese soldier, named Chen Wei, said of the newest member of the Chinese military, according to CCTV.

“During our missions, it can provide real-time transmission of reconnaissance footage to the command posts, another soldier, Yang Shengzhi, said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.