‘Robot dog’ showcased at Red Sands could have C-UAS purpose

The Red Sands C-UAS drills, held in the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, saw the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia come together to demonstrate C-UAS technologies, with a focus on countering UAS in regions heavily affected by drone activity.

One of the key highlights of this year’s exercise was the use of a Quadrupedal-Unmanned Ground Vehicle, often called the ‘robot dog,’ which drew attention due to its unique nature and potential role in drone defence.

The quadrupedal robot, identified as Ghost Robotics’ Vision 60, was equipped with a training variant of the M4A1 rifle. Though specific details of its role in Red Sands remain undisclosed, the Vision 60 has previously been involved in various U.S. military drills, including the Advanced Battle Management System at Nellis Air Force Base in 2020 and Project Convergence at Fort Irwin in early 2024.

These earlier exercises explored the robot dog’s ability to enhance situational awareness and provide security, particularly in urban and battlefield environments. At Red Sands, its role appears to have evolved further, with indications that it could be used to shoot down aerial drones due to the nature of the drills. The Vision 60’s night vision, thermal mode electro-optical system and swivelling turret also suggest that it is being evaluated for this purpose.

In addition to the Vision 60, the exercise showcased other C-UAS systems, including Rheinmetall’s Mission Master XT, a large unmanned ground vehicle equipped with dual M134D miniguns and radar to detect and engage drones. The Oshkosh M-ATV (MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle) was also present, armed with the Crows Blade C-UAS system, which integrates radar and a .50 calibre heavy machine gun.

The event also featured a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter firing a Hellfire missile to destroy a small UAS, possibly marking the first such engagement by the U.S. Army in live drills. Such drills are a reminder of the ongoing work to evaluate systems and approaches for countering the UAS threat in modern warfare.

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