Meet China's newest army recruit: a two-foot-tall robotic tank equipped with a machine gun and an infrared night-vision camera.

The remote-control machine, described as 'small but lethal', is designed to travel through complicated terrains at a fast speed and replace human soldiers in dangerous scouting missions, according to state media.

Footage aired on state TV shows the so-called 'robot warrior' inspecting the surroundings, climbing various stairs, monitoring the enemy at night and firing at targets in a demonstration.

It is said to measure 70 centimetres (27.6 inches) long, 60 centimetres (23.6 inches) tall and 120 kilograms (264.6 pounds) in weight. 

It recently joined the Ground Force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) after making its debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2014.

According to the PLA Eastern Theater Command, which announced its official commission, the uncrewed ground vehicle can traverse all kinds of land, observe and target at the rival accurately and attack with ferocious firepower. 

The thigh-high semi-autonomous war machine would be put to scout for information about the enemy in remote and potentially dangerous settings, reported state broadcaster CCTV.