Will the US put (ro)bots on the ground in Iran in 2026?

Question

Will the US use unmanned ground vehicles or other robots intended to move over land and fulfill combat roles on Iranian soil?

US = US army or other armed forces/branches of government.

Robots = Vehicles or machines intended to move over distances over 100m without a driver physically touching any part of the vehicle (cord-operated do not count).

Combat role = Directly trying to cause damage or in direct contact/support of soldiers that do. Examples: medevac counts, moving containers in a logistical center does not.

Manifold Markets · Answer

Roughly even odds — Manifold Markets prediction market estimates a 42% chance (14 traders, as of Mar 24, 2026).