Wolf robots go on the attack: how China is testing war dogs in exercises with soldiers

 

Imagine a picture: a group of soldiers of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) crouching under "fire", performing tactical maneuvers on a hillside. And next to them, predator robots, resembling wolves, move clearly and silently without stopping. They're not hiding. They're moving forward.  

This is not a scene from a fantasy movie — this is a real military exercise, during which China is testing a new generation of combat robots capable of working closely with live military personnel. These machines, which look like four—legged dogs or predators, are already called "robops" or "robovolkas" - and they are becoming an increasingly serious part of the army of the future.

 How does it work?

The robots are controlled remotely by an operator, but at the same time demonstrate impressive autonomy. The lightweight version is especially interesting — judging by the footage, it is equipped with a LiDAR system that scans the area and builds a 3D map of the environment in real time. This allows robots to move confidently through difficult terrain: rocks, mud, slopes and forests — where it is difficult for humans, and it is easy for vehicles to get stuck on tracks.

What can they do?

— They move through any terrain — from swamps to mountains.  

— They can carry modules with weapons and fire at a range of up to 100 meters with high accuracy.  

— They work in conjunction with soldiers, performing reconnaissance, diversionary maneuvers or even fire support.  

— During the exercises, they continued to move while the soldiers "covered themselves" from the simulated fire, showing that the vehicles are considered an extension of the combat unit, and not just auxiliary equipment.

China is clearly following the path of army hybridization: soldier + robot. Such vehicles reduce the risks for live fighters, allow them to clear buildings faster, patrol borders and operate in dangerous conditions — with chemical threats, radiation or in conditions of high ambush activity.

The wolf robots are not just a technology show. This is a signal: the future of war is already here, and it barks not for real, but at the operator's command.