After testing the Chinese quadruped robot with an assault rifle, Spanish soldiers were taken aback: How can we fight this war?
Recently, the Spanish Army tested a four-legged robot carrying an HK G36E assault rifle in a simulated battlefield, moving flexibly through the environment. A remote operator held a controller similar to a game joystick, and the screen displayed real-time footage from the front. A Spanish soldier who watched the demonstration couldn't help but exclaim, "The operation is so simple, it's like playing a game, and you can clearly see if there are enemies around."
Deploying robots on the battlefield is not a new concept. Since 2020, Boston Dynamics' Spot robot has been used for reconnaissance missions in the Middle East, but at that time, it could only carry a camera, had limited functions, and was expensive, with each unit costing over $70,000, making large-scale deployment difficult.
The main focus of the recent Spanish test, however, is China's robot dog. The most notable feature of this robot dog is its high cost-effectiveness and strong load capacity - official data show that the maximum load capacity of this robot dog is 120 kilograms, with a flight time of more than 4 hours, and it can operate in extreme environments ranging from -20°C to 60°C, while the price is only one-third of similar products from Europe and the United States.
The choice of Chinese robot dogs by the Spanish military itself sends a strong signal: In the field of unmanned equipment, the maturity of China's supply chain has forced traditional military powers to lower their guard.
The Chinese-produced robot dog not only passed the NATO standard electromagnetic compatibility test, but its modular design also allows rapid adaptation to various weapon systems, enabling Spanish engineers to complete the integration and modification of the G36E assault rifle within just two weeks.
Over the past five years, breakthroughs in battery technology, motor control, and artificial intelligence algorithms in China have made it possible for robot dogs to move from laboratories to the battlefield. The robot dog in the video uses a high-density solid-state battery, with energy density 40% higher than that of traditional lithium batteries, and its self-developed joint motor torque density reaches an international leading level. More importantly, China's complete industrial chain has significantly reduced mass production costs, keeping the cost of a single robot dog under $20,000, while similarly performing U.S. products still require over $50,000.
Dao Ge believes that the form of future warfare is changing, but the essence of war remains unchanged - whoever can eliminate the enemy more efficiently and protect themselves better will grasp the initiative. Spain's test is just a signal; the real technological revolution has just begun.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859611685824515/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.