Russia has just launched one of its latest military creations, the M-81 robotic dog. It was wrapped in a face covering during the presentation, but this camouflage was not enough to conceal a puzzling ‘feature’.
An M-81 robotic dog. Still image from video.
Revolutionary weapon?
This new automated robotic weapon platform was unveiled this Monday at the Russian international arms forum ‘Army-2022’. State news agency RIA Novosti also shared a video clip showing the M-81 robot walking around the hall, performing some basic mechanical functions such as bending its legs and moving back and forth.
Video of a robot dog M-81 equipped with an RPG-26 at the Army 2022 defense exhibition. https://t.co/rUnwoCMoyS pic.twitter.com/BEDjnwstN0
– Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 15, 2022
This new self-propelled robot is designed to be used as a weapon carrier. Journalists identified the weapon on its back as a disposable anti-tank missile launcher RPG-26 along with an optical range of models and purposes unknown. Analysts have expressed doubts about whether the M-81 can be aimed from a distance or if it can stand still after firing a missile.
China, again?
Potential mechanical problems aside, the most distinctive feature of this new development has nothing to do with its actual specifications. Preliminary analysis suggests that the M-81 may in fact be made by a Chinese manufacturer. Furthermore, it seems that this is a consumer-grade (non-military-grade) model that can be purchased from various online trading platforms for a relatively modest price of $2,700.
During its presentation and the rest of the exhibition, the robot’s entire body is covered in black cloth, except for the weapon mounted on its back. This has led journalists from CD driver came to the logical conclusion that such camouflage was necessary to conceal the origin of this machine.
Specifically, the robot’s shape and eye position is extremely similar to the Go1 model made by Unitree Robotics, which is sold on the Chinese websites Alibaba and Aliexpress and can be purchased by anyone willing to pay $2,700 USD. . That’s not much, considering the fact that it’s professional industry and military drones costs more than that. Above all, a story very similar to Russian ‘robot’ happened a few years ago.
“It seems pretty clear that the robot was not designed by the Russian manufacturer to show it at the exhibition “Army 2022 ″, nor is it military at all,” noted The Drive. At present, the actual model and origin of the M-81 robot have not been confirmed.
