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JERUSALEM (AP) -- A new, smart Israeli military robot can fight its way down dark alleys, through caves and over rubble, seeking out bombs and booby traps along the way and warning human foot soldiers of enemies and danger ahead, its manufacturer said Thursday.

Elbit Systems, one of Israel's leading defense electronics companies, said its robotic point man, designated VIPeR, is small and light enough to be carried into battle on a soldier's back, but the 25 pound, 9 inch tall tough guy packs a full-size punch.

The remote-controlled unit can be fitted with a mini-Uzi automatic pistol, fragmentation, stun and smoke grenades, explosives sniffer and day and night vision cameras, Elbit said.

It can climb stairs and find its way around with preprogrammed mapping software. The company said that the Israeli military was planning to carry out operational trials with the VIPeR with a view to deploying it with infantry units.

After years of Palestinian-Israeli fighting, various kinds of robots are widely used by the Israeli army and police for inspecting suspect objects thought to be bombs, checking buildings for booby traps and sniffing out arms and explosives.

Elbit said the VIPeR is currently making its first public appearance at the winter exhibition of the Association of the United States Army, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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