US-Australian defense technology developer Skyborne Technologies has received limited use authorization from the US Department of Defense for its CODiAQ armed robotic system, allowing it to begin operational testing and evaluation of the unmanned quadruped platforms directly in combat conditions.
US-Australian defense technology developer Skyborne Technologies has received limited use authorization from the US Department of Defense for its CODiAQ armed robotic system, allowing it to begin operational testing and evaluation of the unmanned quadruped platforms directly in combat conditions.
This is stated in the official statement of Skyborne Technologies. The permission was granted within the framework of a competitive government contract for research and development. Before that, the US Army Test and Evaluation Center conducted independent safety testing of the system at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, confirming its compliance with defense safety standards.
The new $6.5 million contract includes the delivery of 14 quadrupedal robotic systems and 28 modular combat modules. The agreement also includes full maintenance for the equipment for 24 months and operator training for the safe use of the platform by the US military and its allies. The delivery will take place as part of a field demonstration this year at the request of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
«We are working closely with Skyborne to train our tactical operators using CODiAQ and new equipment in live-fire conditions in October 2026. CODiAQ is an important step in the development of armed ground robotic systems,» said Michael J. Trexler, head of the government program.
CODiAQ (Controller Operated Direct Action Quadruped) is a modular quadruped platform based on Ghost Robotics’ famous Vision 60 dog robot. Skyborne has integrated its own EXITUS AI artificial intelligence software into it, which is responsible for targeting. The system architecture is designed based on the «human in the control loop» safety principle, which excludes a fully autonomous decision to open fire without an operator’s command.
