China's Military Accelerates Development of Humanoid Robots for Combat Roles

China's defense establishment is accelerating research and development of humanoid robots for potential military use, moving to translate commercial robotics advancements into battlefield capabilities. A recent call to action in the People's Liberation Army's official newspaper, the PLA Daily, urged researchers to speed up the transfer of cutting-edge technologies from labs to military training grounds, according to a Reuters review of over 100 military and government documents.

PLA's Growing Investment

The push for military humanoids has gained significant momentum in 2025 and 2026, with a focus on improving robot perception, manipulation, and data training, the records show. This initiative is supported by China's commercial dominance in the sector, with its manufacturers accounting for approximately 95% of global humanoid shipments in 2025, according to BofA Global Research.

Key military actions detailed in procurement notices and other documents include:

• A May 2025 PLA tender to purchase a humanoid robot, including installation and training.
• A September 2025 procurement notice from the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) for a system focused on intelligent perception and dexterous operation.
• A June 2026 PLA budget allocation of about $300,000 for a system to collect and label camera, radar, and motion data to train humanoid robots.

Envisioned Battlefield Roles

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Chinese military researchers are already modeling specific combat scenarios for these machines. An August 2025 paper from an NUDT test center described an urban assault force where six "combat robots"—including humanoids—would work with ground troops to clear enemy-occupied buildings. The study projected such equipment could be available within five to 10 years.

A July 2025 article in the PLA Daily suggested that humanoid missions could eventually shift "from supporting combat toward primary combat." This vision was further illustrated in December when the PLA's Eastern Theater Command released an AI-generated video showing military robots, including humanoids, overwhelming Taiwan's defenses in a simulated conflict.

Global Context and Challenges

China is not alone in this pursuit. The U.S. Army launched a competition last year to develop "militarized humanoid capabilities" for tasks like reconnaissance and operations in hazardous environments. However, experts note the U.S. robotics industry currently lags behind China in the development of these systems.

Despite the rapid progress, significant hurdles remain. Experts like Aaron Johnson, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, highlight that unpredictable battlefield environments pose immense challenges to current robot capabilities. Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, stated that while not practical today, humanoids "could very well be" viable battlefield systems in five to 10 years. The ethical implications of autonomous weapons also remain a key concern, with international bodies and national defense ministries, including China's, stating that AI-powered weapons should remain under human control.