Humanoid robots have already shown they can do impressive things like fold laundry, run marathons, and even help assemble cars in factories. Now, it seems they are stepping into an even more serious role: warfare. A robotics company has revealed that its humanoid robots have been sent to Ukraine for battlefield testing, marking what could be a historic moment in military technology. Robots Sent to Ukraine for Frontline Missions In an interview with Time, Mike LeBlanc, a combat veteran and co-founder of robotics firm Foundation, said the company deployed two humanoid robots called Phantom MK-1 to Ukraine earlier this year. These robots were sent in February to perform frontline reconnaissance, meaning they gather information and observe battlefield conditions. While Phantom robots are already being tested in factories worldwide, this appears to be the first known time a humanoid robot has been deployed in an active war zone, including the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. LeBlanc believes robots could eventually take on many tasks currently performed by soldiers. “We think there’s a moral imperative to send robots into war instead of people,” he told Time. His long-term vision is ambitious: creating robots capable of using any weapon that a human soldier can operate, similar to the robotic fighters seen in the Terminator movies. Read also: Ukraine opens battlefield data to train AI drones with allies A future of robotic soldiers? After observing the situation in Ukraine, LeBlanc says his belief in robotic soldiers has only grown stronger. According to him, humanoid robots could become a natural evolution of existing military technologies such as autonomous drones. Instead of risking human lives, robots could handle dangerous missions on the battlefield. Robots have several advantages over human soldiers: LeBlanc also believes that in the future, large numbers of humanoid robots could act as a kind of military deterrent, similar to nuclear weapons. If both sides have robotic armies, it could reduce the chances of escalation. Read also: Battle of the AI chatbots in US Possible use beyond war zones The technology may also be used outside battlefields. LeBlanc revealed that his company is in close contact with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about potentially using humanoid robots to patrol the southern U.S. border. Read also: Anthropic AI used in attack on Iran The ethical debate around AI soldiers Despite the potential benefits, the idea of robotic soldiers raises serious ethical concerns. Critics warn that using robots in combat could make it easier for governments to start wars, since fewer human lives are at immediate risk. It may also make it harder to determine responsibility if something goes wrong on the battlefield. Currently, U.S. military rules state that automated weapons must still require human approval before firing. Foundation says it plans to follow the same rule with its robots. However, the situation on modern battlefields is evolving quickly. In Ukraine, some AI-powered drones are already capable of identifying targets and firing automatically, especially when electronic jamming disrupts remote control signals. If one side allows fully autonomous weapons, experts warn that others may feel pressured to do the same raising new questions about how wars could be fought in the future.
