Robots at war: Israel’s unmanned D9 bulldozer reshapes battlefield tactics PHOTO

The Israeli military has significantly expanded its use of remote-controlled bulldozers in Gaza, unveiling a new chapter in battlefield automation with the deployment of the “Robdozer” — a robotic version of Caterpillar’s heavily armoured D9 engineering vehicle.

The Robdozer was recently demonstrated at a testing site in central Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

From a distance, the machine appeared to be a conventional bulldozer. But on closer inspection, its cabin was empty — the vehicle was being remotely operated from a military technology expo thousands of miles away in Alabama.

The vehicle, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is part of a broader effort by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to reduce risks to soldiers by removing them from direct combat zones. “The idea is to eliminate the person from the cockpit of the dozer,” said Rani, a lead engineer at IAI, who provided only his first name for security reasons.

The IDF has relied on the traditional D9 bulldozer for years to perform frontline operations, including clearing roads, removing debris, and flattening terrain for advancing troops. However, since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023 and ongoing operations along the Lebanese border, the unmanned version has become a more frequent presence on the battlefield.

Rani said the Robdozer has proven capable of carrying out its missions “even better than a human,” noting the vehicle’s increased precision and endurance. Though the machines are currently operated remotely by human controllers, future developments could see them function autonomously — a possibility that raises serious ethical and legal concerns about the role of AI and automation in warfare.

Israel’s battlefield innovations — including AI-powered targeting, air defence systems, and drone-based surveillance — have attracted both praise for their effectiveness and criticism over transparency, accountability, and potential violations of international law.

According to a senior Israeli military official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, the army has been experimenting with robotic systems for over a decade but only recently began deploying them on a large scale. “Now it is being used in large-scale warfare,” the official said, highlighting the shift from experimental use to frontline integration.

The use of Robdozers allows troops to perform essential engineering operations without physically entering hostile territory, reducing exposure to ambushes and improvised explosive devices.

Andrew Fox, a retired British army major and defence analyst with the London-based Henry Jackson Society, said the Robdozer marks a milestone. “It’s a really big development,” Fox said. “It’s changing the paradigm of warfare,” allowing tasks to be carried out as effectively — and far more safely — than before.

Military analysts view Israel’s growing use of robotic systems as part of a global trend in military automation, joining innovations like remote-controlled troop carriers and drone swarms that are rapidly transforming the nature of modern conflict.

By Tamilla Hasanova