China's military recently displayed a robot dog with an automatic gun during joint drills with Cambodia, emulating “Black Mirror.” This makes a robotic dog a powerful weapon for modern warfare.

CCTV footage shows soldier Chen Wei saying, "It can serve as a new member in our urban combat operations, replacing our human members to conduct reconnaissance, identify enemies, and strike targets."

The two-minute video from the China-Cambodia "Golden Dragon 2024" exercise showed the robot dog walking, bouncing, lying down, and moving backward remotely. In one training, the rifle-armed robot dog led infantry into a mock building. In the movie, a six-rotor aerial drone carried an automatic gun, demonstrating China's various intelligent unmanned equipment.

The military employment of robotic dogs and small aerial drones is not new, but China's recent show highlights their advancements. Last year, CCTV footage showed China's rifle-armed robotic dogs in a Southeast Asian military training.

The US Air Force used robotic dogs in its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) in 2020 to detect and counter threats using artificial intelligence and rapid data analytics. Drones have proven fatal in the Ukraine conflict, allowing fewer military units to engage better-funded opponents.

China, a leading drone exporter, restricted drone exports last year for national security. Even so, China's social media has showcased the People's Liberation Army's robotic canines for over a year. According to the state-run Global Times, these robotic dogs' collaborative workouts reflect technical maturity and advanced progress.