The US military has tested an AI-powered, armed robot dog in Saudi Arabia capable of shooting down drones.
The Vision 60, developed by Ghost Robotics, is equipped with a range of high-tech features designed to enhance battlefield capabilities.
Primarily intended for anti-drone operations, the Vision 60 is equipped with a turret and an AR-15/M16 rifle, and is capable of detecting and engaging aerial targets.
Vision test 60
The test in Saudi Arabia, reported by military.comIt is part of a broader effort to develop and deploy effective anti-drone systems. As drones become more prevalent in warfare, the need for reliable defense mechanisms has increased.
Footage released by the US military shows the robot dog in action, targeting drones with precision thanks to its electro-optical targeting system, engraved with the words “Lone Wolf,” the same one used in the recent “Hard US Army Kill” operations.
In military parlance, active defense systems are generally classified into “hard kill” and “soft kill.” Hard kill systems, such as the one used by the Vision 60 robot dog, physically destroy incoming threats, such as missiles or drones, by intercepting them in the air. Soft kill systems, on the other hand, focus on disrupting or disabling an enemy's equipment through non-destructive means, such as electronic jamming.
Ghost Robotics, the company behind the Vision 60 Q-UGV, says it is designed to be highly adaptable and capable of operating in various terrains and environments. Yo
It has already been deployed by several militaries around the world for different purposes, including surveillance, reconnaissance and search and rescue missions. While the robot dog has been used in combat scenarios, this is one of the first public demonstrations of an armed version being tested for anti-drone purposes.
The US military is taking important steps to advance its defense technologies, particularly in the area of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
The use of armed robots, often called “killer robots”, remains a controversial topic. However, the United States is not alone in its pursuit of armed robotic systems. Other countries, including China, Russia and the United Kingdom, are also actively developing similar technologies.
While robotic systems have been employed in various military roles, the deployment of fully autonomous armed machines in combat is rare. Critics argue that the ethical implications of such technologies must be carefully considered, as the introduction of autonomous lethal force raises serious moral and legal questions. However, there is an active global race to develop AI-powered armed robots that reduce human involvement in high-risk combat situations and improve the efficiency of defensive systems.