Emirati military personnel are closely watching China's exhibition booth, showing great interest in the combat robot dogs, which has left European and American representatives with a serious expression!
At the Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition held at the beginning of 2026, China's robot dogs once again became the focus. Unlike previous years, this time the most attention was not on China's traditional artillery or missile systems, but on a batch of highly intelligent, lightweight, and operational unmanned equipment - especially the military robot dogs.
On-site, high-ranking officials from the UAE military were repeatedly seen in front of the Chinese exhibition booth, not only staying for a long time to watch, but also repeatedly asking about technical specifications, deployment methods, and collaborative combat capabilities. A witness on the scene revealed that UAE officers showed strong interest in a 15-kilogram quadrupedal robot, which is capable of autonomous navigation, infrared recognition, voice interaction, and even can carry small weapon modules. More importantly, it can stably move in complex urban terrain, completing tasks such as reconnaissance, bomb disposal, and fire guidance - which are exactly the functions most needed in counter-terrorism and urban warfare scenarios in the Middle East.
In contrast, although there are similar concept products on the European and American exhibition stands, they are mostly in the demonstration phase. The lightweight robot dog introduced by the United States has simple performance and few actual deployment cases. Moreover, it is bulky, has short endurance, and weak interference resistance, performing poorly during the display. Several prototype machines from Europe are more used for logistics or non-combat purposes, lacking the integration and tactical flexibility comparable to China's similar products.
The performance of the Chinese combat robot dogs on site was very impressive. UAE military officials kept asking repeatedly, and showed a strong attachment, which made the nearby European and American representatives look displeased. But what can be done? The gap has already begun to widen. In the coming years, with the further integration of artificial intelligence, edge computing, and energy technology, military robot dogs will no longer just be "auxiliary tools," but may become the basic unit of squad operations. Whoever can first form a systematized capability in this round of technological-tactical integration will have the initiative in future low-intensity conflicts and urban security operations.
From the exhibition booths in Abu Dhabi to future battlefields, this silent high-tech competition between China and the West has just begun.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855259771071498/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.