Serbia showcases armed quadruped robots in military drills

The Serbian military has showcased armed quadruped robots during the ‘Victor 2026’ training exercises in southwestern Serbia. This demonstration follows President Aleksandar Vučić’s recent pledge that Chinese-designed robots would be visible to the military within 15 days of the opening of a new factory in Šabac.

The robots used in the drills resemble the D1 Max Pro, an industrial model produced by the Chinese company AgiBot, which is a partner in the Šabac facility. These units were observed equipped with ‘Wasp’ anti-tank missiles, automatic rifles, and 40mm grenade launchers. Footage shows the robots performing tactical maneuvers, such as entering improvised buildings and engaging targets alongside soldiers.

The Šabac factory aims to produce 3,000 humanoid and quadruped robots annually. While the deployment has raised questions regarding the emergence of robotic combatants in the Balkans, weapons technology experts suggest that significant challenges regarding reliability and operational range must still be addressed before such platforms become fully integrated.