U.S. military develops Robocop armour for soldiers

Team Infidel

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor


By MATTHEW HICKLEY,

We may have seen it all before in science-fiction films. But the bionic warrior is in fact a vision of real-life warfare in the 21st century. U.S. defence chiefs hope to have their troops kitted out in the outlandish combat gear as soon as 2020.

Included in the Pentagon's Future Warrior Concept are a powerful exoskeleton, a self-camouflaging outer layer that adapts to changing environments and a helmet which translates a soldier's voice into any foreign language.
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The future soldier will also benefit from 'intelligent' armour, which remains light and flexible until it senses an approaching bullet, then tenses to become bulletproof.

Perhaps worryingly, several of the planned enhancements seem to owe more than a little to Hollywood blockbusters such as Robocop, Aliens and Predator.

But officials are quick to point out that many of these systems are already working in prototype form, or are refinements of proven technologies.
Some of the blueprints will be unworkable without eagerly awaited advances in nanotechnology, but researchers remain confident. And perhaps with good reason.

The sheer scale of U.S. military research spending and the pace of recent advances in aircraft stealth technology and guided precision bombs are staggering.
Project specialist Jean-Louis DeGay, a former captain in 75th Ranger Regiment, said: "We're already trialling equipment and technologies that did not exist a few years ago.
"The air force has just debuted its new stun gun and five years after the concept of an exoskeleton was first discussed, we have fully functioning prototypes."

He told Soldier magazine: "Five years ago, nobody thought we'd have a portable hydrogen fuel cell, but we've got them now.

"They're functioning, and we're just trying to make them smaller. And if I'm honest, nothing speeds up the development of technology like war."

If the U.S. military's vision of the future is even half-right, Britain's armed forces will have their work cut out trying to keep up.
Even comparatively understated attempts to improve our troops' battlefield technology, such as the Bowman digital battlefield radio system, have been blighted by years of delays and embarrassing technical blunders
 
This system is called the Future Warrior 2020 and is the latest installment of the Future Force Warrior, which has already (to my understanding) seen trials and limited field introduction. Its developments are exciting and interesting, but I wonder how long it will be until the baddies have them? Or develop ways to defeat the body armor (which by the way is completely different than standard plate inserts)? Dont worry Airmen, they have one for you too, the Air Warrior.

I once asked someone about these systems and he reminded me that equipment does not make the soldier, the soldier does. Once every one has them, it will come down to the person inside of the armor that makes the difference. Still, I like the idea of lifting up the back end of a humvee with my legs...
 
Have you seen the more recent models? There even concepts that are integrated with the land warrior system. Also they have cool looking ACU patterns. Or just grey. Bigger thicker helmet then the one above, I will see If I can get a pic to post.

But, complex eqiutment like that works best in short engagments , not 3 or 4 days of steady combat, like in some occassions in Vietnam. It may work well agaist insurgents, but what about a full military on military war? What is it's endurance level, and are the tolerable to rain, sleet, sand and snow? Or whatever opstical that mother nature can concieve?

If put on grunts, the designers must realize that most rifleman at the lowest levels of a military ground force are not qualified engineers. So, armor like this may be harder to take care of, and just as stressfully adding to a normal soldiers duties. (can't say much, and warn me if I am mistaken, please)

However, the electronic discharge weapon I can agree with. That really simplifies the role of a soldier and his weapon. This will have no jams because a electronic charge sets off a small explosion inside the chamber of the weapon, thus, sending the projectile forwards. No firing pen, gas operation, or shell casings needed. A

And the weapon's firing rate, is limited only to the CPU's ability spit out a clip, or ammo belt. Also, if the weapon is captured, a computer inside, the weather proof weapon, can read the holders hand, if it does not match a friendly, then, it renders it self useless, and either jams or damages itself (the computer of course) or just completely shuts down, until a friendly armorer reactivates it.

Note: (If I a mistaken on anything, let me know.)
 
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And boy is your face going to get red when your chameleon cammo starts showing heart patterns complete with "I'm A Fag" sign on the back.
 
We can't even keep humvees up and running and they think this is gonna work?

R&D needs to do a tour in a hot zone.
 
They are trying to make the Master Chief from Halo in reality. I don't think it will happen until we have cold fusion and better nanotech. Hell, we couldn't even manufacture the ammunition for such a weapon without molecular factories. ~50 years, perhaps.
 
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