The US military has tested an armed and AI-powered robot dog in Saudi Arabia that can shoot down drones.
Developed by Ghost Robotics, the Vision 60 is equipped with a range of high-tech features designed to enhance its capabilities on the battlefield.
Primarily aimed at anti-drone operations, the Vision 60 is equipped with a turret and an AR-15/M16 rifle, and can detect and engage aerial targets.
Vision 60 testing
The test in Saudi Arabia, reported by Military.comis 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.
The images released by the US Army show the robot dog in action, targeting drones with precision thanks to its electro-optical targeting system, engraved with the words ‘Lone Wolf’, the same as the one used in the US Army’s recent ‘Hard Kill’ . operations.
In military jargon, active defense systems are generally divided into ‘hard kill’ and ‘soft kill’. Hard-kill systems, such as those used by the Vision 60 robot dog, physically destroy incoming threats, such as missiles or drones, by intercepting them in mid-air. Soft kill systems, on the other hand, focus on disrupting or disabling an enemy’s equipment through non-destructive means, such as electronic interference.
Ghost Robotics, the company behind Vision 60 Q-UGV, says it is designed to be highly flexible and able to work in different terrains and environments. I
It has already been deployed by several militaries around the world for various 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 a weaponized version being tested for anti-drone purposes.
The US military is making great strides in advancing its defense technologies, especially in the areas of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
The use of armed robots, often called ‘killer robots’, remains a controversial topic. However, the US is not alone in its pursuit of weaponized robotic systems. Other countries, including China, Russia and the United Kingdom, are also actively developing similar technologies.
Although robotic systems have been deployed 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. Nevertheless, there is an active race worldwide to develop AI-powered, weaponized robots that will reduce human involvement in risky combat situations and improve the efficiency of defensive systems.