Robots are fighting wars and helping to quash riots China is arming riot police with squads of AI controlled drones and Ukraine wants to man the frontlines with 25,000 robots

Date:
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:05:00 +0000

Description:
Robots are replacing humans on the frontlines and the homefront.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter China and Ukraine are testing new robotic capabilities Robots are being deployed to the frontlines of the war with Russia Protests in China could soon be policed using squads of robots and drones Robots cant surrender, dont suffer issues with morale, and wont refuse an order. Thats why militaries and law enforcement see them as the future.

Ukraine has already employed robots in multiple roles across its armed forces - from seaborne and airborne drones, to CASEVAC and logistics vehicles - and now wants to deploy 25,000 more in frontline positions. China is also
flirting with the idea of kitting out its armed police and riot units with squads entirely made of robots, controlled by a central AI, with remote human input only to prevent the bots from being too heavy handed. Article continues below You may like Futuristic humanoid robots go viral in China and leap ahead of Tesla's Optimus AI surveillance is already here and its getting worse Could Ukrainian drones replace DJI in the US? Ukraine to deploy 25,000 ground robots In order to supplement its existing capabilities, the Ukraine Ministry of Defense has announced that it will seek to deploy an additional 25,000 robots in the first half of 2026. Our goal 100% of frontline
logistics should be performed by robotic systems, said Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Since the Russian invasion, Ukraines industry for robots and drones has exploded with over 280 companies now actively producing systems and solutions to help the war effort.

Ukraine has already claimed to have taken a trench system using a team made entirely of robots , in what could be a first of its kind engagement. There are also novel deployments of drones and robots with mounted weapons, including machine guns and rocket launchers.

The government is also setting up a center to help the Armed Forces, General Staff, and robotics manufacturers cooperate, ensuring smooth manufacturing
and deployment. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. China testing riot robots The Peoples Armed Police Force (PAP) theorized a scenario where it a protest is quelled in an urban environment using a riot squad made entirely
of robots.

The squad, made up of reconnaissance drones, armored vehicles, and robot dogs would isolate and detain instigators, removing the protests organizational backbone. The rest of the protest, cut off from the internet and lacking leadership, would then disperse on its own.

Aerial drones would use pattern recognition to identify agitators, before kettling the protest with robotic barriers. Arrests are then made, using nets and tasers to neutralize threats.

The system would require very little human input, instead using AI as its center of command. Arrests would remain a human decision, albeit a remote
one.

The scenario, set in New City, bears a striking resemblance to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, which China has claimed to be an inalienable part of the mainland since the Kuomintang-led Republic of China government lost the Chinese civil war and fled to the island nation. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/robots-are-fighting-wars-and-helping-to -quash-riots-china-is-arming-riot-police-with-squads-of-ai-controlled-drones-a nd-ukraine-wants-to-man-the-frontlines-with-25-000-robots


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