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Modern militaries are facing a growing challenge: how to carry out dangerous missions in threat-saturated environments without risking human lives. Urban warfare, tunnel infiltration, building clearance, and the delivery of supplies under fire pose particularly high risks to ground forces. At the same time, the increasing precision and lethality of drones and anti-tank weapons have turned any exposed movement on the battlefield into an operational challenge.
Against this backdrop, a new technological direction has emerged in recent years: humanoid ground robots designed to operate in environments that have traditionally required the presence of soldiers. Unlike wheeled or tracked robots built for specific tasks, a humanoid robot can climb stairs, open doors, carry equipment, and operate within infrastructure designed for humans. This enables a single platform to perform a wide range of missions without requiring changes to the environment.
The new generation of these robots is intended to function as a forward element in high-risk missions. Early models weigh around 80 kilograms, stand approximately 1.75 meters tall, and are capable of carrying loads of about 20 kilograms. Their capabilities include autonomous navigation, movement in complex terrain, and operation of equipment—and in certain scenarios, even weapons. However, prevailing assessments suggest that the use of lethal force would remain under remote human control, driven by safety and ethical considerations.
From a security perspective, the implications extend beyond replacing an individual soldier. The integration of humanoid robots could reshape operational concepts: instead of relying on airstrikes or heavy firepower, a robot could be sent into a suspected building to conduct reconnaissance, gather intelligence, and provide real-time situational assessment. Even if the robot does not fire a weapon, its ability to serve as “eyes and legs” in a dangerous area reduces risk and enables more precise decision-making.
This trend is not merely theoretical. Since 2022, Ukraine has increasingly employed ground-based robotic systems, and the IDF has been operating unmanned platforms for engineering and reconnaissance tasks for years, including remotely controlled armored vehicles and robots designed for tunnel operations. The humanoid robot represents the next step in this evolution—one that seeks to combine human-like flexibility with mechanical resilience.
The open question is not only technological, but also strategic: will the deployment of thousands of robots on the battlefield strengthen deterrence, or will it lower the perceived cost of war and make the decision to use force easier? Either way, the line between soldier and algorithm appears to be increasingly blurred.
