---
title: "China Prepares Humanoid Robots for Combat: Military Simulates Urban Storms Involving Machines"
description: "Chinese military, via NUDT, is simulating urban combat involving humanoid robots. The country supplies up to 95% of global shipments of such platforms, while the U.S. has launched its own competition but is lagging in pace."
date: 2026-09-21T16:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/china-prepares-humanoid-robots-for-combat-use
tags: [china, humanoid-robots, military-technology, ai, unitree, robotics, defense]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# China Prepares Humanoid Robots for Combat: Military Simulates Urban Storms Involving Machines

![Humanoid combat robot with glowing blue eyes and armored body — military model for urban assault operations](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/22/kitay-gotovit-gumanoidnyh-robotov-k-boevomu-primeneniyu/kitay-gotovit-gumanoidnyh-robotov-k-boevomu-primeneniyu-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- NUDT is modeling urban combat scenarios combining infantry and humanoid robots
- China supplies around 95% of global humanoid platform shipments (other data suggest around 50% of the market)
- The U.S. launched a competition for militarized humanoid systems in 2025
- The ICRC warns of risks in autonomous systems' recognition of civilians and the wounded

Chinese military institutes have begun actively preparing for the integration of humanoid robots into combat operations. According to documents from the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), Chinese strategists are already modeling scenarios of armed conflict in urban environments, where assault teams may consist of a combination of live infantry and combat robots jointly clearing buildings. As of September 2026, such developments have moved from the theoretical phase to the stage of practical testing, as confirmed by several international publications citing Chinese defense sources.

### Why the Humanoid Form Specifically

The key argument in favor of a human-like design is anatomical compatibility with existing infrastructure. Two arms and two legs allow a humanoid to combine mobility, climbing, and manipulation of objects in confined spaces — on ship decks, in tunnels, and in the narrow corridors of urban buildings. Unlike wheeled or tracked platforms, a humanoid can use stairs, doorways, and handrails designed for humans, making it a universal tool for clearing rooms without the need to modify the environment.

### Industrial Base and Global Leadership

According to defense analysts, China's robotics sector accounts for around 95 percent of global supply of humanoid platforms. Manufacturers such as Unitree and a number of other companies are building a powerful industrial base that allows the military to rapidly scale up procurement. It is precisely this production concentration, experts believe, that gives Beijing a strategic advantage in the race to militarize robotics.

### The American Response and Technological Lag

In parallel, similar programs are being developed in the United States. In 2025, the U.S. Army launched its own competition to create militarized humanoid systems for reconnaissance and security tasks. However, according to observers, the American industry still lags behind Chinese manufacturers in terms of production rates and price competitiveness, creating additional pressure on Washington within the framework of technological rivalry.

### Ethical Challenges and the ICRC Position

The International Committee of the Red Cross and a number of experts in international humanitarian law emphasize serious ethical risks. Autonomous or semi-autonomous systems may face critical difficulties in recognizing civilians, signs of surrender, or wounded enemy fighters. In the conditions of urban combat, where population density is at its maximum, an algorithmic identification error could lead to the deaths of innocent people, calling into question the compliance of such systems with the principle of distinction enshrined in the Geneva Conventions.

### Contradictory Data

Open sources show discrepancies in estimates of China's share of the global humanoid market. Defense documents and some analytical materials cite a figure of around 95 percent of global supply. At the same time, a number of industry publications, including data cited in January 2026, state that Chinese humanoid robots have captured "nearly half of the world market." The difference may be explained by different counting methodologies: the 95 percent may refer to the volume of production and export supply, while "half the market" may refer to revenue or the number of units sold, taking domestic consumption into account. The exact figure is currently not confirmed by a single independent source.

### Forecasts: The Robot on the Front Line

Despite ethical and technical limitations, Chinese military analysts predict that, with further reductions in unit cost and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, humanoid machines will take a firm place on the battlefield. It is expected that semi-autonomous platforms under remote operator control will be the first to be deployed in combat conditions, while fully autonomous systems will only appear at the next stage of technological development. Thus, by the end of the decade, the humanoid robot may become as standard an element of an assault team as a sniper rifle or a reconnaissance drone is today.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Robots Head to War: China Tests Combat Humanoids](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/roboti-ydut-viynu-kitay-viprobovue-boyovih-1789998676.html) - Подтверждает факт тестирования боевых гуманоидов и связь с NUDT
- [Nanny Robots and Salespeople: Humanoid Machines Conquer the Chinese Market and Learn to Think](https://svpressa.ru/science/article/502879/) - Даёт контекст по гражданскому рынку и развитию ИИ-функций гуманоидов в КНР
- [China Begins Preparing Humanoid Robots for Participation in Combat Operations](https://ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/07/44-46-a205461) - Независимое подтверждение начала военной адаптации гуманоидов, датировано 07.09.2026
- [Chinese Humanoid Robots Have Captured Nearly Half of the World Market](https://argumenti.ru/hitech/2026/01/984710) - Указывает на ~50% рынка, что расходится с цифрой 95% из оборонных документов; вероятно, разная методология подсчёта

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which specific Chinese institute is developing combat scenarios with humanoid robots?
**A:** According to published documents, the simulation of urban combat operations involving humanoids is being carried out by China's National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).

### Q: Why do the military choose the humanoid form for robots?
**A:** Two arms and two legs allow the robot to use infrastructure built for humans: stairs, doorways, and handrails. This is critically important for clearing buildings, tunnels, and ship decks.

### Q: What is China's share of the global humanoid robot market?
**A:** Defense sources cite around 95% of global supply, while industry publications name a figure of about 50% of the world market. The discrepancy is likely due to different counting methodologies (volume of supply vs. market revenue).

### Q: Are similar programs being developed in the U.S.?
**A:** Yes. In 2025, the U.S. Army launched a competition to create militarized humanoid systems for reconnaissance and security, but in terms of production rates the U.S. still lags behind Chinese companies such as Unitree.

### Q: What ethical risks does the ICRC emphasize?
**A:** The International Committee of the Red Cross warns that autonomous and semi-autonomous systems may incorrectly recognize civilians, the wounded, and fighters surrendering, creating a risk of violating the principle of distinction in urban combat.