A Chinese army man, right, tests a machine gun equipped on a robot dog before participating in the Golden Dragon military exercise in Svay Chok village, Kampong Chhnang province, north of Phnom Penh Cambodia, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Heng Sinith, AP Photo 

BEIJING - China has deployed robot dogs, including one equipped with a rifle that can conduct assault missions, during an ongoing joint military exercise with Cambodia, according to Chinese state-run media.

In the "Golden Dragon 2024" exercise, a robot dog weighing over 50 kilograms and carrying an assault rifle on its back spearheaded an attack on a building where several mock terrorists hid, China Central Television reported.

Another robot dog that can send real-time reconnaissance data to a command center was also used. Weighing 15 kg, it is equipped with a four-dimensional super-wide-angle sensing system.

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With a battery and power system that allows up to four hours of use, the smaller of the two models can perform maneuvers such as moving forward and backward, jumping and crouching, CCTV said, adding it can also independently arrange movement routes to avoid obstacles and quickly close in on its target.

Chen Wei, a Chinese participant in the exercise, was quoted as saying that the heavier, rifle-equipped one can replace human teammates and has "become a new member in our urban operations."

Analysts have told Chinese media that the robot dogs can "greatly enhance combat efficiency and reduce casualty."

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Multiple types of other new equipment, including drones designed for armed reconnaissance and transport tasks, were also integrated in key sections in the exercise, according to the report.

The annual Golden Dragon exercise in Cambodia was first held in 2016. This year's drill began May 16 and will last through Thursday.

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==Kyodo