New Delhi, August 31

Unmanned robots looking like steel-made ‘dogs’ have been inducted into the Army. They can carry high-resolution surveillance equipment, transport light loads, small arms, sensors and even have thermal imaging camera that provide images in the dark.

Ideally, the robots, which can even climb stairs, will be sent in ahead of troops if a terrorist hideout has to be raided. The robots are connected to the nearest base unit to provide real-time imagery. The Army has named these robots as MULES — Multi-Utility Legged Equipment.

The first lot of 25 arrived in June, following which the Army laid down the standard operating procedures for using these robots. These has been sent to front line units and are functional, sources said. The Army had placed an order for 100 such robots in September last year under an emergency procurement scheme. They can be equipped with small arms, allowing for actual encounter to be done while the troops could be at a safe distance. The robots can even carry small supplies to soldiers stationed in frontline positions.

China already has integrated similar robots into its military operations, unveiling gun-toting robots earlier this year. During an exercise with Cambodia, China demonstrated two versions of these robots: one weighing 50 kg and equipped with an assault rifle, and a lighter 15 kg model for reconnaissance missions.

The Indian Army is making a shift to include more and more technology in its operations. The year 2024 has been declared “year of technology absorption” to focus on adopting new technologies to stay ahead of adversaries.