John Bassett, a security consultant with a 20-year career at GCHQ, believes deadly combat robots are rapidly becoming “a reality” of modern day warfare.

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　　GETTY IMAGES8US Army Specialist Nathaniel Anselmo makes repairs to a remote-controlled robot called Talon

　　GETTY IMAGES8A small military recon-robot named Fester is guided by a US army soldier in Afghanistan

　　The claims come as Newsline.com reports that the Pentagon has announced it’s investing millions “to develop prototypes for a combined-arms squad.”

　　These state-of-the art military units will consist of human soldiers and robots and are aimed at maximising performance on future battlefields.

　　Combat robots will rapidly become an inherent part of US fighting forces within the next 10-15 years, defence experts say.

　　Washington is apparently seeking to gain military edge over China, Russia and other rivals investing in research and development of robotic systems.

　　Mr Bassett said: “Intelligent robotic weapons – they’re a reality, and they will be much more of a reality by 2030.

　　“At some point around 2025 or thereabouts the US Army will actually have more combat robots than it will have human soldiers.”

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　　YOUTUBE: ROBERTO LEONES MASINI8The terrifying robot is armed with two powerful automatic pistols

　　YOUTUBE/ RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY8Many of the robots can be controlled from a safe distance

　　The former intelligence expert mentioned upcoming unmanned trucks that would drive themselves and be more effective on the road than a manned vehicle.

　　“But some of them are rather more exciting than trucks. So we will see in the West combat robots outnumbering human soldiers,” he explained.

　　He’s not the only expert who believes in the rise of the robot soldier.

　　Peter Singer, a strategist for the New America Foundation, said armies also need to brace themselves for battle AGAINST killer machines.

　　“It’s not just when is it going to happen, but we don’t yet know is it going to privilege the offence or defence, what are going to be the affects of it,” he said.

　　He suggested the Congress hold a classified hearing on where the US stands compared to our enemies on cyber warfare.

　　“We don’t want to fall behind,” he said.