Commando Super Suit Will Feature An Exoskeleton and 'Liquid Body Armor'

[jakeXT]

Imagine a day in the not too distant future when American commandos won't have to pull back in the face of enemy fire as they did in Somalia this weekend. Instead, they'll wear armor that allows them to literally walk through a hail of AK-47 fire and snatch their target away. Who will need drones when you can snatch a guy off the street with minimal risk of U.S. casualties?

This scene, straight out of a sci-fi movie, might be real someday soon -- if U.S. Special Operations Command chief Adm. William McRaven has his way.

The nation's top SEAL last month asked defense for technology to build a suit of armor, called the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), that does everything from provide the wearer with night vision and superhuman strength to protecting them from gunfire.

"I'm very committed to this, I'd like that last operator that we lost to be the last operator we lose in this fight or the fight of the future, and I think we can get there," McRaven told dozens of industry representatives gathered at SOCOM headquarters in Tampa Fla. last July to discuss the creation of this supersuit.


http://killerapps.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/10/09/commando_super_suit_will_feature_an_exoskeleton_and_liquid_body_armor

[kestrel91316]

1. I guess you need this when your country is in an endless state of war.

[bemildred]

2. And it will cost a fortune. It may take some AK47 fire but it won't take even one RPG.

And don't even bring up maintenance and power.

They keep thinking technology is magic.

[MADem]

3. They've made an exoskeleton suit. They're still working on it.

It's good for going long distances, good with payloads, too, but not good when it comes to withstanding head-on assault.

http://singularityhub.com/2009/06/11/army-exoskeleton-suit-gives-man-superhuman-strength/

(This is from a few years back but it gives you a sense of what they're up to....)