Russian rocket-launching robot dog likely fake

RUSSIA IS HOSTING A WEAPONS EXPO THIS WEEK. RUSSIAN ENGINEERS USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNVEIL ONE OF THEIR NEWEST DESIGNS, BUT IT MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE RUSSIAN OR FUNCTIONAL.

THIS IS THE NEW M-81 ROCKET-LAUNCHING ROBOT DOG. A VIDEO CLIP SHARED BY A STATE-OWNED RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY SHOWED THE ROBOT MOVING AROUND THE EVENT SPACE AND INTERACTING WITH BYSTANDERS.

THE ROCKET ON TOP OF THE ROBOT IS AN RPG-26, A RELATIVELY LIGHTWEIGHT ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE SYSTEM.

BUT WHY IS THE ROBOT DRESSED LIKE A NINJA? AND WOULD IT EVEN WORK?

FIRST, IT’S DRESSED IN BLACK LIKELY TO HIDE THE FACT THE “HIGH TECH” RUSSIAN ROBOT IS ACTUALLY MADE IN CHINA,  AND IT’S AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS ONLINE FOR ABOUT $3000.

BUT WOULD AN RPG LAUNCHING ROBOT DOG BE ACCURATE?  IT COULD BE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, ANOTHER VIDEO OF A SIMILAR DOG WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE STRAPPED TO ITS BACK WENT VIRAL. THE DOG COULD BARELY HANDLE THE RECOIL OF A RIFLE, MAKING IT LARGLEY COMBAT INEFFECTIVE.

BUT THE RPG-26 DOESN’T CREATE AS MUCH RECOIL, SO YES, THE M-81 COULD BE ACCURATE.

BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S REAL, AT LEAST NOT IN THE SENSE THAT THIS IS AN ACTUAL WEAPON IN THE RUSSIAN ARSENAL.

THE COMPANY BEHIND THE M-81, MACHINE INTELLECT, LOOKS TO BE A SHELL CORPORATION WITH HARDLY ANY INTERNET PRESENCE.

SEVERAL SOURCES SAY THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS A RUSSIAN WEAPONS MANUFACTURER IS BUYING CHINESE COMPONENTS AND RESELLING THEM TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT FOR A PREMIUM.