BEIJING: China has introduced a wide selection of light arms and a groundbreaking development in military technology: robo-wolf, at Airshow China 2024.
The gun series and the multi-function quadruped anti-terrorism robots are designed to bring new levels of versatility and tactical power to modern warfare.
The state-owned China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC) exhibited guns in the Type 20 series, which have been modified to be able to fire different calibers of bullets, including 7.62mm, 5.8mm and 5.56mm, to suit the needs of different users from around the world, the Global Times learned from the CSGC at the airshow.
Some of the widely known guns in the Type 20 series, such as the QBZ-191 auto rifle, was redesignated as the CS/LR43 for the 7.62mm version and the QBU-191 precision rifle was redesignated as the CS/LR44 for the 7.62mm version.
Another star item on display is a type of multi-function quadruped anti-terrorism robot called the Grey Wolf. It can be dispatched in combat units such as individual teams and special operations squads for urban warfare, border patrol and sniping missions. It can pass through complex terrains, has high stealth, high accuracy even against moving targets and can carry different modules for different functions, including Type 191 series rifles, Type 171 sub-machine guns and sniper rifles, according to the developer.
The advanced robots used to be called “robo-dogs” but now they have transformed into “wolves,” because now they can operate like a pack of wolves in combat, working effectively as a team to accomplish complicated missions rather than working independently.
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The Grey Wolf will work with the soldiers in the mission so that it can prevent casualties. Furthermore, the soldiers, or the person who controls the “wolves” can help them avoid making any mistakes during the mission, said an employee of the developer. “For instance, when it carries out a hostage rescue mission, the special force soldiers can see everything from the screen of the controller to make sure it only shoots at terrorists, and doesn’t shoot at non-hostile targets.”
CNN in its report earlier this year during military drills with Cambodia, China’s military showed off a robot dog with an automatic rifle mounted on its back.
The two-minute video made during the China-Cambodia “Golden Dragon 2024” exercise also shows the robot dog walking, hopping, lying down and moving backwards under the control of a remote operator.
In one drill, the rifle-firing robot leads an infantry unit into a simulated building.
The latter part of the video also shows an automatic rifle mounted under a six-rotor aerial drone, illustrating what the video says is China’s “variety of intelligent unmanned equipment.”
Military use of robot dogs – and of course small aerial drones – is nothing new. A CCTV video from last year also highlighted China’s rifle-armed electronic canines in a joint exercise involving the Chinese, Cambodian, Lao, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese militaries held in China last November.
