Robot dogs with shotguns, grenade launchers head to US urban warfare trials

The US Department of War awarded Skyborne Technologies a $6.5 million firm-fixed-price R&D, test, and evaluation contract for CODiAQ, an armed quadruped robot platform.

The package includes 14 robot platforms, 28 modular weapon payloads, training, and 24 months of sustainment for assessment by USSOCOM and an allied partner.

CODiAQ uses AI-assisted targeting and onboard ballistic computing with HAVOC 40mm and CHAOS 12-gauge payloads, aimed at urban combat and special operations trials.

The contract reflects growing US military interest in armed ground robots and a push to field them faster through live-fire evaluation.