Foundation Future Industries Plans to Deploy Humanoid Robots in the U.S. Military

CNBC reported Saturday that Foundation Future Industries, a San Francisco startup with ties to the Trump family, is pushing to place humanoid robots in frontline U.S. military roles within the next 18 months.

A Startup Targeting War, Not Laundry

Most humanoid robot developers are chasing consumer and service applications. Foundation Future Industries is taking a sharply different approach. The 2024-founded company is building what it calls “dual-use” autonomous humanoids designed for dangerous industrial environments and active military operations.

CEO Sankaet Pathak told CNBC he believes robotics has matured to a point where machines can replace humans in life-threatening roles. He framed that shift as one of the highest social benefits the technology could deliver. Eric Trump, son of the sitting president, recently joined the company as chief strategy advisor, deepening its Washington connections.

Pathak co-founded the company alongside Arjun Sethi, former chief executive of Tribe Capital, and Mike LeBlanc, a co-founder of Cobalt Robotics. Pathak previously ran Synapse, a fintech platform that collapsed into bankruptcy in 2024.

Also Read: AI and the Pentagon: How the U.S. Military Is Embracing Artificial Intelligence

Ukraine as a Proving Ground

Earlier this year, Foundation sent two Phantom MK-1 units to Ukraine in what the company described as the first known deployment of humanoid robots in a combat theater. The tests, conducted with Ukrainian officials and backed by the U.S. government, focused on logistics in hazardous zones rather than direct combat.

Ukraine has emerged as a global testing ground for defense technology. Now in its fifth year, the conflict has seen ground robots ferry supplies to front-line positions and AI-enhanced drones carry out reconnaissance and precision strikes. Autonomous systems are no longer experimental there. They are operational.

Foundation’s MK-1 results showed the robot could handle supply pickups that would otherwise put soldiers at risk. The current hardware still has real limitations. Each unit carries only around 44 pounds, lacks waterproofing, and cannot sustain deployments long enough for wide use. Upgraded models are expected to ship to Ukraine later this year.

Ambitious Targets and Scrutiny Ahead

Pathak has outlined plans to manufacture thousands of units in 2026 alone. The company has drawn some skepticism. Earlier claims of a close relationship with General Motors, and the suggestion of potential investment from the automaker, were publicly rejected by GM.

Despite that friction, Foundation’s military focus and its expanding political ties place it squarely inside the fast-growing conversation about AI and robotics reshaping national security. The race to field autonomous systems in conflict zones is accelerating, and Foundation is betting it can reach the U.S. military before better-funded rivals do.

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