Source: https://motorwatt.com/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/videos/what-about-military-robots-today # [ Humanoids of the Future | Humanoid Robots](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots "Humanoids of the Future | Humanoid Robots") - [ General ](/community/community-groups/categories/general) - [ Public ](javascript:void(0);) - [ 3 Members ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/members) - [ 17583 ](javascript:void(0);) - [Timeline](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots) [About](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/info) [ Members ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/members) [ Albums ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/albums) [ Videos ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/videos) [ Events ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/events) [ Marketplace ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/marketplace) [ More ](javascript:void(0);) [← Back To Videos](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/videos) [Done](javascript:void(0);) [x](javascript:void(0); "Click here to revert to original thumbnail") Play video and select frame to capture or upload thumbnail [ Play ](javascript:void(0);) [ Capture ](javascript:void(0);) [ Upload Own Image ](javascript:void(0);) # What about military robots today? By [ Alex Garin](/community/electromobili "Alex Garin") in [New Electric Vehicles](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/videos/categories/new-electric-vehicles) 579 views 2nd Mar, 2026 Video Duration: N/A Humanoid military robots, once confined to science fiction like **Terminator** or **Star Wars** battle droids, are rapidly transitioning into real-world defense programs as of 2026. The most prominent development comes from U.S.-based startup **Foundation Future Industries**. Their **Phantom** (also called Phantom MK1) is a 5'9" (about 175 cm), 180-pound (82 kg) humanoid designed explicitly with military applications in mind. It can carry up to 44 pounds (20 kg) of payload—including lethal weaponry—and is built for high-risk scenarios such as reconnaissance, entering buildings first in urban combat, carrying ammunition to soldiers, bomb disposal support, or "first body in" dangerous situations. Foundation has secured millions in U.S. military contracts for research, logistics, and manufacturing tasks. While current deals do not yet include arming the robots, the company is in active discussions to expand into combat roles. CEO Sankaet Pathak predicts Phantom units could assist U.S. forces in non-combat battlefield capacities as early as 2026–2027. The company has even sent unarmed Phantom robots to Ukraine for military reconnaissance support in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Foundation's production ambitions are aggressive: roughly 40 units in 2025, scaling to ~10,000 in 2026, and targeting 50,000 by the end of 2027. At an estimated unit price around $150,000, this positions Phantom as one of the more affordable combat-capable humanoids, potentially enabling mass deployment. Other major humanoid developers like **Figure AI** (**Figure** 02/03), **Boston Dynamics** (**Atlas**), and **Tesla** (**Optimus**) have focused primarily on industrial and commercial uses—such as factory work at BMW or Hyundai—but military interest remains high. The U.S. Department of Defense continues exploring human-machine teaming concepts, though no large-scale humanoid combat programs have been publicly confirmed beyond startups like Foundation. Internationally, **China** leads in aggressive military robotics integration. While true armed humanoid soldiers remain limited, Beijing has showcased weaponized quadruped "robot dogs" (e.g., from Unitree derivatives), drone-deployed systems, and humanoid platforms in parades and demonstrations. State media has featured humanoids performing martial arts with weapons, and analysts warn of rapid dual-use (civil-military) development that could scale quickly. **Advantages and Concerns** Humanoid designs offer unique benefits in military contexts: they can use human tools and environments without modification, navigate stairs/rough terrain like people, and potentially integrate seamlessly with human troops. Supporters argue they could reduce soldier casualties by handling the most dangerous tasks first. However, ethical questions loom large: accountability for lethal decisions, escalation risks in autonomous warfare, and the psychological impact of humanoid machines resembling humans in combat. Most programs emphasize **human-in-the-loop** control for lethal force, similar to current drone operations. By March 2026, humanoid military robots remain in early deployment phases—mostly support and testing—but the trajectory is clear. Within 5–10 years, armed humanoid units could become normalized in select militaries, fundamentally reshaping ground warfare. The race is on, driven by both technological breakthroughs and geopolitical pressures. --- **People In This Video** No users are tagged in this video --- [ Previous China has captured the humanoid robot market. ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/videos/china-has-captured-the-humanoid-robot-market) [ Next $41,400 Humanoid Robot from Chery Now Available for Online Purchase in China ](/community/community-groups/humanoids-of-the-future-humanoid-robots/videos/41-400-humanoid-robot-from-chery-now-available-for-online-purchase-in-china) --- - [ Share](javascript:void(0);) - [Embed](javascript:void(0);) 1 0 0 0 0 0 [ Avtoxvalov reacted to this ](javascript:void(0);) Comments (*1*) - (/community/avtoxvalov) Develop this topic as Elon calls all his Tesla EVs "robots". 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