中国令人畏惧的“机器狼”无人机首次在战场上现身巡逻

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Story by Ethan Evans

China's four-legged 'robot wolf' drone has been seen in action for the first time after state-run television showed the fearsome-looking machines taking part in a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) drill.

Shown performing tasks alongside soldiers, the metal machines are either armed with QBZ-191 assault rifles or carry reconnaissance payloads.

China Central Television (CCTV) reports two motorised infantry companies from a brigade of the PLA's 76th Group Army featured in the drill to build on traditional infantry tactics through human-drone collaboration.

Drones both in the air and on the ground can carry out combat operations like preliminary reconnaissance verification, precision strikes on key targets, as well as covering their human counterparts.

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Footage shows the training exercise taking place on an area of hilly grassland as human soldiers - also armed with QBZ-191 assault rifles, on top of QBU-191 marksman rifles and man-portable rocket launchers - are accompanied by the wolves.

Aerial drone operators can also be seen deploying First Person View (FPV) drones carrying out reconnaissance and suicide attack missions while dressed in ghillie suits and hiding in the grass.

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Recalling his experience of manning the new inventions, Hu Te, a member of the brigade, told CCTV: "This exercise marks the first time I have commanded and operated the robot wolf.

"Our primary-level companies aim to use the newly commissioned unmanned equipment well, and integrate them with humans."

Robot wolves were first unveilled to the public at last year's Airshow China held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province.

It weighs around 70 kilograms and acts as a utility quadrupedal robot platform with variants for attack, reconnaissance, transport and support missions.

The robot is revered for its high mobility and adaptivity in complex terrains, and its ability to operate on the field alongside humans and operate in coordinated formations.

It can also overcome high obstacles and even climb ladders, reports the Golden Times. Officials also say they could be more effective and dangerous than the deployment of aerial drones.