The United States has awarded a contract for the building of advanced robot dogs and modular weapons payloads to be used in low-intensity conflicts.
The project, awarded to Australian defence firm, Skyborne Technologies, by the US Department of War (DoW), includes a research contract worth $6.5 million for the delivery of Controller-Operated Direct-Action Quadruped (CODiAQ) armed unmanned ground system.
A DoW assessment confirmed CODiAQ met the required safety standards for handling live armed autonomous ground systems before field evaluation testing. “We are working closely with Skyborne to deliver CODiAQs and new equipment live fire training to our Tactical Operators in October 2026,” said Government Programme manager, Michael J. Trexler, in a statement.
The US Army recently selected the THOR Group 2 backpack-portable multirotor UAS for companylevel deployment, enhancing frontline aerial intelligence capability. The $6.5 million firm-fixed-price research, development, test, and evaluation contract is set around Skyborne’s CODiAQ armed unmanned ground systems.
The package includes 14 quadruped robotic platforms and 28 modular weapon payloads for evaluation by the US Special Operations Command and a partnered foreign ally. The contract also covers full system sustainment for 24 months, including hardware support, maintenance, and repair services to keep the robots operational during
testing.
It ensures the systems maintain a high readiness level throughout all evaluation activities. In addition, Skyborne will provide operator and maintainer training so that US and allied personnel can safely use, support, and evaluate the systems in the field.
All deliveries will be made in a single coordinated fielding event scheduled for later this year, supporting multiple Tactical Units of Action within USSOCOM.
According to the firm, the program reflects broader Department of Defense priorities focused on accelerating AI-enabled military capabilities, improving soldier survivability, and speeding up the transition of new technologies into operational use.
Skyborne is also manufacturing the systems in the US, as part of efforts to build domestic production capacity. “This milestone allows the Department of War to rapidly assess operational utility with rigorous emphasis on system safety, operator control, and risk management during OT&E and combat evaluations,” said Trexler.
CODiAQ is a ground-based robotic system designed to support remote, direct fire operations using modular weapon payloads and AI-assisted targeting software. The platform is being developed and funded with the support of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.
The system integrates Skyborne’s modular payloads, including HAVOC 40mm and CHAOS 12-gauge weapon systems, along with an onboard Targeting Electronics Optical Box (TEOB).
This computing unit supports real-time target detection, day and night operation, and ballistic calculation for precision engagement.
CODiAQ is operated by a single user through a handheld controller while the robot itself handles movement and navigation across terrain.
