As automation increasingly reshapes the nature of warfare, China is asserting its dominance in the field of unmanned ground vehicles. State defense manufacturer Norinco recently shared new footage of its latest heavy UGV, the VU-T10, showcasing its capabilities in a live test environment. Initially presented at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, the platform has now gained renewed attention following the release of official testing clips on July 20, 2025.
The video shows the VU-T10 navigating rough terrain and firing its 30 mm cannon at targets. Built on a tracked chassis and remotely operated from a control vehicle, the platform is designed to serve as a mobile fire support unit. Based on open-source data, the VU-T10 is estimated to be 3.8 meters long, 2.4 meters wide, 2 meters tall, and weighs around 12 tons.
Its standard weapon package includes a 30 mm autocannon, a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and tandem anti-tank rockets. It can also be fitted with Red Arrow 12 anti-tank missiles, giving it extended strike range and operational flexibility. Smoke grenade launchers provide self-protection in contested zones.
Electrically powered, the VU-T10 can reach up to 60 km/h, offering a silent, low-signature movement capability critical in modern high-intensity conflict zones. Alongside the VU-T10, Norinco is developing a family of unmanned ground systems, including an 8×8 logistics UGV dubbed the “mule,” aimed at resupplying forward units. Together, these platforms represent China’s effort to modernize ground forces through intelligent autonomous technology.
What sets the VU-T10 apart is not just its armament, but its integration into a broader ecosystem of AI-driven warfare. The official footage also reveals other systems operating alongside the UGV: the quadruped “Machine Wolf” robot, UAVs, laser-based anti-drone systems, missiles, howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers—forming a unified operational web under the MUM-T (manned-unmanned teaming) doctrine.
A Norinco spokesperson told Global Times that significant resources have been redirected toward drone warfare and counter-drone systems, in line with China’s goals of informatized, intelligent, and network-centric operations. The VU-T10 is thus seen as a key element in the country’s transformation of ground warfare doctrine.
Although Norinco has not yet disclosed any official export deals for the VU-T10, state sources confirm the system has been actively promoted at defense expos across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, hinting at a global marketing push.
With its modular design, advanced weaponry, and integration into algorithmic combat strategies, the VU-T10 is rapidly positioning itself as a game-changing element in the evolving unmanned ground combat landscape.
