Japan Is Preparing To Introduce Humanoid Robots Into Its Military
- 23.09.2026, 13:57
They can also be deployed in “non-combat situations.”
The Japanese armed forces, which are facing difficulties in recruiting new soldiers, may begin to deploy humanoid robots equipped with integrated physical artificial intelligence (AI). The country’s authorities are currently exploring this possibility, according to Japan Today reports, citing sources in the government and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). It is noted that such robots could be deployed in “non-combat situations,” including patrolling military bases and providing logistical support, which would allow for a reduction in the number of personnel in the country’s Self-Defense Forces.
According to the agency’s sources, this effort is being led by the Defense Ministry’s Agency for Procurement, Technology, and Logistics. A competition is expected to be held, during which humanoid robots developed by private companies and universities will demonstrate their capabilities. According to sources, such robots may be deployed on reconnaissance and rescue missions in the future. The government plans to revise key defense and security documents by the end of the year to enable broader use of AI as a key factor in strengthening the country’s defense capabilities.
The physical AI systems with which such robots are equipped allow them to analyze information collected via sensors and cameras and perform various types of tasks. At the same time, authorities continue to approach the use of AI in combat operations with caution, notes Japan Today. This is due to the risk that the technology might confuse its own forces with the enemy or combatants—that is, participants in hostilities—with civilians, and vice versa.
“We do not expect humanoid robots equipped with physical artificial intelligence and weapons to be used in combat operations,” said a high-ranking official from the LDP’s security committee. A representative of the Defense Ministry, for his part, emphasized that AI could become an effective tool “to replace or supplement operations carried out by a limited number of personnel.”
At present, China leads the way in the production of humanoid robots. According to Bank of America estimates, China accounted for 95% of global shipments of such systems in 2025. In addition, Chinese researchers are actively developing these robots to modernize their economy, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has begun training humanoid robots for use in combat conditions.
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