The startup Foundation Future Industries, backed by Eric Trump, son of the US president, is developing humanoid robots with lethal capabilities for military use. The Phantom MK1 has already been tested in Ukraine.
The line between science fiction and military reality is blurring. Foundation Future Industries, a US startup backed by Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump, is developing humanoid robots specifically designed for the battlefield. The project includes kinetic capabilities, that is, lethal systems, as confirmed by its CEO, Sankaet Pathak.
Humanoid robots with lethal capabilities
Pathak revealed to specialised media that the company is exploring "kinetic things" for its robots, a term that in the military context refers to active weaponry. The Phantom MK1, its main prototype, has already been tested with Ukrainian forces in real war scenarios. The company has not detailed the exact weapons, but plans to announce concrete advancements in the coming months.
In addition to combat, the robots would be intended for logistical tasks, reconnaissance, and inspection in conflict zones. Foundation Future Industries was founded in 2024 and quickly acquired Boardwalk Robotics, a firm with experience in humanoids and collaboration with the Human and Machine Cognition Institute (IHMC) in Florida.
Million-dollar contracts and high-level backing
The company has secured million-dollar government contracts and has the strategic advisory and direct investment of Eric Trump. Trump himself has publicly highlighted the potential of these robots, noting that the combination of autonomy and artificial intelligence could revolutionise the military industry. Foundation Future Industries also manages inherited contracts and development agreements with the Pentagon and other US entities.
Global interest in autonomous robots in the military sphere is growing in parallel with advancements in artificial intelligence. Robotics experts consulted assert that the demand for systems to replace soldiers in high-risk tasks is real and that the technology is close to being deployed in operational scenarios.
Ethical and legal debate on autonomous weapons
The rise of armed humanoid robots rekindles the debate on so-called lethal autonomous weapons. The United Nations has called for a ban on these systems, which, supported by artificial intelligence, can select and attack targets without direct human control. UN Secretary-General António Guterres insists on the need to prohibit by international law the "machines that decide who lives and who dies," warning that their use is "morally repugnant."
Risks include identification errors between civilians and combatants, accelerated escalation of conflicts, diffuse responsibility for damages, and a decreased political cost of initiating war. Organisations like Human Rights Watch warn about "digital dehumanisation," where algorithms make consequential decisions about life and death. Several powers, including the United States, Russia, China, and Israel, are investing in autonomous systems on various fronts.
For readers interested in technology and defence, this development represents a turning point: the integration of artificial intelligence in military operations poses unprecedented dilemmas. While proponents argue for greater accuracy and fewer human errors, critics insist on maintaining human judgment. The debate is not only technological but also ethical and legal, and will mark the difference between an advancement in the protection of lives and an unprecedented risk.
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