China's military is developing humanoid robots for infantry support missions such as infiltrating enemy rear areas and clearing buildings, with planned combat-unit integration within five to ten years, according to Reuters.
China’s military research institutes are preparing humanoid robots for front-line infantry missions, including infiltrating enemy rear areas and clearing buildings alongside human troops, Reuters reported.
An analysis of more than 100 defense tenders, scientific papers, and patents indicates that the People’s Liberation Army plans to integrate humanoid systems into combat units within five to ten years. The documents describe machines that would support infantry units in complex environments rather than operate in isolation.
In May 2025, the PLA issued a tender to purchase a humanoid robot. A June 2026 budget then earmarked roughly $300,000 for a system that gathers and labels data from cameras, radars, and motion sensors to train the machines. That procurement points to a phased effort: first acquiring the robotic platforms, then building the sensor-data pipeline needed for battlefield awareness and movement in cluttered terrain.
Beijing is leaning on domestic manufacturers for the hardware. According to BofA Global Research, Chinese companies supplied about 95% of global humanoid-robot shipments in 2025, giving the PLA a homegrown industrial base as it moves toward operational trials.
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