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Salvadoran Forces Deploy Rifle‑Armed Robot Dogs in Haiti’s Capital, Footage Shows
Open‑source imagery indicates Salvadoran forces have brought rifle‑armed quadruped robots into Port‑au‑Prince, using China‑made Unitree Go2 “robot dogs” fitted with Israeli ARAD‑5 assault rifles during operations in Haiti’s capital.
Salvadoran forces operating in Haiti’s capital, Port‑au‑Prince, have deployed rifle‑armed robot dogs, according to imagery and weapons analysis shared by open‑source researchers.
The robots appear to be Unitree Robotics Go2 quadrupeds made in China, identifiable by their four‑legged design, with IWI ARAD‑5 assault rifles manufactured in Israel mounted on top. These commercial “robot dogs” have been tested by security forces elsewhere, but their use in Port‑au‑Prince places them in a dense urban environment where heavily armed gangs and international forces are both active.
The reported deployment comes as external forces try to support Haitian authorities in regaining control of parts of the capital. The use of armed quadruped robots suggests participating forces are experimenting with equipment that can move through streets and buildings without exposing human operators in the same way.
For residents of Port‑au‑Prince, the appearance of these robots adds a new element to an already volatile security situation in which armed groups and foreign‑backed units operate in close proximity to civilians.
The use of relatively affordable, commercially available platforms like Unitree’s robots, combined with widely exported rifles such as the ARAD‑5, shows how states involved in security missions can now field systems that blend civilian robotics with standard infantry weapons.
How often these robot dogs are used, in what roles, and whether they are linked to any incidents involving civilians will shape future debate over similar deployments elsewhere.