The US has awarded an Australian defense firm to deliver advanced robot dogs and modular weapons payloads for use in low-intensity conflicts. Skyborne Technologies has received a US Department of War (DoW) research contract worth $6.5 million for its Controller-Operated Direct-Action Quadruped (CODiAQ) armed unmanned ground system.

A DoW assessment confirmed CODiAQ meets 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 Michael J. Trexler, Government Program Manager, in a statement.

Recently, the US Army selected the THOR Group 2 backpack-portable multi-rotor UAS for company-level deployment, enhancing frontline aerial intelligence capability.

Army robot evaluation

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, in a statement.

Modular robotic firepower

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. It can operate in autonomous or semi-autonomous modes, allowing the operator to focus on mission control rather than direct piloting.

According to Skyborne, the quadruped platform is designed for fast deployment, becoming mission-ready within minutes. It is built to move across complex environments, including rubble, forested areas, and urban structures such as stairs, and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.