Indian Army’s four-legged robots give a new edge to border surveillance in J&K

The Indian Army has introduced a new innovation in border surveillance in Jammu & Kashmir, utilizing four-legged robots alongside its human and canine personnel. These advanced machines are proving invaluable in challenging terrains along the 740-kilometer-long Line of Control (LoC). The Army received the initial batch of 100 of these robots, referred to as MULEs, in June 2024 and has since expanded their deployment to sensitive border regions like Akhnoor and Rajouri.

Videos of these robotic units patrolling the Akhnoor sector have gained significant attention. Defence sources revealed that these machines have significantly enhanced surveillance capabilities, offering real-time intelligence and support in logistic operations in rugged environments. They excel at traversing difficult landscapes, including mountain slopes, snow-covered areas, deserts, and river crossings, and can withstand extreme weather conditions, from -40°C to +55°C.

Additionally, the MULE robots can carry tactical payloads weighing between 12 kg to 15 kg, reducing the physical load on soldiers, and are equipped with advanced surveillance tools, including 360-degree cameras, electro-optics, thermal/infrared systems, and radar for real-time threat detection and object identification.