State Television Shows Chinese Military Using LiDAR-Equipped Robotic “Wolves” During Amphibious Assault Exercises

Chinese forces have unveiled a new weapons system out of science fiction: semi-autonomous rifle-toting four-legged robots. On November 13, multiple Western news outlets released Chinese state television footage appearing to show the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) using robotic “wolves” to assist human operators in conducting an amphibious landing exercise. The “wolves,” which were also featured in the PLA’s “Victory Day” parade in September, likely contain several mounted LiDAR units — which use laser pulses to construct sophisticated scans of surrounding objects — to aid in navigation and reconnaissance.

These drills, which follow the unveiling of other LiDAR-equipped weapons, such as main battle tanks, highlight the further integration of LiDAR into PLA platforms and operational dynamics.

New Ground Drones Provide Fire, Logistical Support

The exercise, which was conducted in late October, appears to feature the “Huangcaoling Hero Company,” a part of the 72nd Army Group under the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, which would likely be responsible for any military operation against Taiwan. In the footage posted by state television, the LiDAR-equipped robotic “wolves” provide suppressing fire to assist Chinese landing forces scattered along the simulated beachhead, navigating through sand and anti-landing obstacles while being directed via remote control. In another clip, a “wolf” unit, appearing to use its LiDAR units to act autonomously in a reconnaissance role, leads a tactical column of Chinese soldiers operating along an open roadway before providing covering fire to soldiers fighting behind a fixed position.

The exercises also appear to show the ground units providing logistical support to infantry assaulting beach defenses, including one “wolf” shown carrying ammunition to a soldier using a shoulder-fired rocket system. Notably, however, the drills do not depict any of the drones assisting human medics in battlefield casualty evacuation — a growing trend on the frontlines of Ukraine due to the extensive presence of overhead drones.

China’s LiDAR Sector Underpins Beijing’s Military Modernization Efforts

Since Beijing declared LiDAR a “chokepoint technology” in 2018, China’s LiDAR sector now accounts for 80 percent of global sales, with firms such as Hesai, RoboSense, and Leishen receiving state subsidies to increase production and dominate a growing market with ties to both civilian and military technologies. This dominance has been further spurred by China’s growing electric vehicle market and its ongoing military modernization campaign, both of which rely on LiDAR sensors to power autonomous driving systems and reconnaissance units. 

Along with bolstering the PLA’s capabilities as the Chinese military transitions from a manpower-heavy force into one more capable of executing precise joint operations, China’s hold over the LiDAR sector has direct implications for U.S. national security. Along with controlling a key supply chain, Chinese firms may also maintain the capacity to exfiltrate data from embedded LiDAR systems, along with placing backdoors within LiDAR units or manipulating their signal patterns. Chinese agents have also allegedly used LiDAR units to map allied military installations, including a Chinese spy ring busted by Filipino authorities in February for scanning police stations and naval facilities.

Washington Must Restrict Chinese LiDAR Throughout Critical Supply Chains

The United States should focus on disrupting Chinese LiDAR firms’ ties to the PLA and preventing their growth within the American market. The Department of Defense should consider adding additional Chinese LiDAR companies suspected of selling equipment to China’s military, including Livox and Leishen, to the 1260H “Chinese military company” list. These efforts should be coupled with the Federal Communications Commission adding Chinese LiDAR units to the agency’s “Covered List,” sharply restricting their availability within the American market.

Washington should also move aggressively to curb the use of Chinese LiDAR units within domestic critical infrastructure. Congress should consider extending procurement bans to more federal agencies, particularly those that oversee critical infrastructure sectors, while the departments of Transportation and Homeland Security should work to identify current vulnerabilities and identify options for mitigation or removal.

Jack Burnham is a research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Jack and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Jack on X @JackBurnham802. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.