It seems that it’s de rigeur for major defence companies to produce a ‘robot dog’ these days and at this year’s LIMA defence exhibition, held in Langkawi from 23-27 May 2023, China’s Norinco joined the trend.
The Model W20, as Norinco’s four-legged robot is called, is “not just a demonstrator”, a Norinco official told ESD at the show on 23 May, but could be used for monitoring and reconnaissance in any environment deemed dangerous for a human presence.
However, when Malaysian Defence Minister Y B Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan visited the Norinco stand that day he was guided to an array of more lethal hardware. Front and centre on the Norinco stand were the King Dragon 300 610 mm, King Dragon 150 300 mm and Fire Dragon 40 122 mm guided rockets.
Also on display were the Blue Arrow 5A, 11A and 21A air-to-surface missiles, Red Arrow 12E anti-tank missile and GP120B1 satellite-guided 120 mm mortar round, along with models of the CS/SM2 120 mm wheeled self-propelled mortar, VN16 tracked amphibious armoured assault vehicle, Sky Dragon 50 wheeled surface-to-air missile system, SH15 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer and SR5 wheeled multiple rocket launcher.
Suspended above the Norinco stand were models of two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs): the armed CR500 Golden Eagle coaxial helicopter and the Sky Saker FX80 fixed/rotary-wing UAV.
Asked by ESD whether Norinco was pursuing any specific defence requirement at LIMA 2023, the Norinco official replied, “Not yet; we are not addressing any opportunity,” insisting that Norinco was simply showcasing its capabilities.
Peter Felstead
