Russian military lab unveils prototype of Star Wars-like combat suit

RT

A major hi-tech Russian military research center has unveiled what appears to be a prototype of a next-generation combat suit. The stunning gear, resembling Star Wars outfits, will be worn by Russian soldiers on future battlefields.

The prototype features a helmet covering the soldier’s face and cutting-edge body armor.

The next-generation combat gear also includes a powered exoskeleton to help increase performance and stamina while fighting.  

The prototype was unveiled on Thursday at the opening of Russia’s largest high-tech prototyping center at the National University of Science and Technology (MISIS) in Moscow.

It was developed at the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building, a major Russian weapons designer and primary military supplier.

“We’re working on a concept for the combat suit of the future. On display is our vision of the suit we would like to develop within the next couple of years,” said Oleg Chikarev, deputy chief of weapons systems at the institute.

“We’re also working with [Russian] companies specializing in various elements of combat equipment and we’re creating the features which, in our opinion, will help our soldiers carry out their missions on the battlefield,” he added.

The Russian military is actively preparing to meet the challenges of future warfare as major world powers are investing in research and development of next-generation combat systems, including exoskeletons and robotized platforms.

Last year, the military said robots and cyborgs will gradually replace human soldiers on land, in the air, at sea, and in outer space.

“I see a greater robotization, in fact, future warfare will involve operators and machines, not soldiers shooting at each other on the battlefield,” Lieutenant General Andrey Grigoriev, head of the Advanced Research Foundation (ARF) – viewed as Russia’s analogue of DARPA – told RIA Novosti in an interview in July last year.

However, as human soldiers will still play a role on the battlefield until robotized warfare becomes reality, work on Russia’s infantry combat system Ratnik 2 is underway, the AFR head said, adding that his agency is already looking for a next-generation upgrade.

The Legionnaire, a new project, will feature sophisticated firearms, communications systems, as well as enhanced gear ensuring all-round protection from bullets and shrapnel, allowing infantrymen “to feel comfortable in any environment.”

https://www.rt.com/news/394745-russian-future-combat-suit-exoskeleton/

Jim

12 thoughts on “Russian military lab unveils prototype of Star Wars-like combat suit

  1. The MIC in the US has been working on a similar project called “TALOS” for a few years now. You can search for it on the Web. If successfully developed for military use, you can bet your ass it will end up being used by domestic pigs as well — or by the military proper against civilians, perhaps for gun confiscation.

    THIS is why I keep harping on the need for civilians to develop more effective weapons! What good is the Second Amendment if your bullets just bounce off your enemy?

    At a bare minimum, we need more AP rifle ammo in civilian hands — even if people have to start making it themselves.

    I do have some doubts about the ultimate reliability and usefulness of these suits. But that is not something that should be taken for granted.

    1. BMF
      I just thought of a neat idea.(probably old news.)
      In T.I.G. welding, welders use pure tungsten electrodes, 1/6,3/32,1/8
      diameter ,even larger. Tungsten has a very high melting point about 10,000 f. and it has a relatively high density.
      Know what I mean? Hammer and nail?

      1. Yes, good thinking. That’s something that could be investigated.

        In fact, current military AP bullets often use tungsten carbide in their cores for its extreme hardness. Tungsten carbide is a bitch to work with and reportedly somewhat toxic (don’t inhale or ingest the dust), but it’s even more effective than hardened steel for AP bullet cores.

        There’s at least one YouTube video of a guy who made a shotgun slug out of polymer (maybe high-density polyethylene) with a good-sized carbide insert. I think the video was posted by “Taufledermus” or however that weird name is spelled. Anyway, this slug punched through a slab of AR500 steel that a .308 barely even scratched.

        Whether that slug would also go through Level IV ceramic armor is unknown. But this is the kind of thing citizens should be experimenting with and developing. Unless we all arm up with .50 BMGs, we need to start thinking hard about dealing with future armor developments.

        1. A couple more clues. Used carbide can be had
          at just about any machine shop. They will save broken tools in a coffee can to scrap at a later date.
          Get the broken carbide end mills, 1/8-1/4 dia. as the shanks are perfectly to size(just under nominlal size). Drill, ream, press in.Diamond wheel to a point, by hand after you get the hang of it, woo hoo.
          I would think they would sell to a guy asking.
          They used to get $2.50 lb but I think the price is really low now. The other clue, Diamond tools cut it like butter. Now the Tungsten Welding electrode rod is ground to size. The hard part would be cutting it to length. There again a diamond saw should work. Being as those are ground. All that’s needed then, is a under sized drill, a reamer who’s diameter matches the electrode size or .0002″ smaller. Then your there. I don’t think there’s much that will stop carbide with enough power behind it. One would have to experiment with the tip shape, and length, inserted too long and I would think it may bounce back through the soft bullet base. Don’t know just guessing.
          like I said, Carbide cuts like butter with diamond tools. The tungsten electrode isn’t as hard and can be ground on a regular belt sander or grinding wheel. Thats a good clue,as to which is better suited. Carbide needs a harder wheel to do the same. Green wheel or diamond. Preferably diamond.

          1. diamond tools and water is good stuff..(retired stone mason, )

          2. Koyote:
            Most people haven’t learned how well it works. I used to have all the good diamond tooling years ago. I had a complete lapidary shop as a hobby. The 6 wheel diamond wet grinder is the way to go. I also had a Faceting machine. Both, and a small diamond saw, would be perfect for the project we’re discussing.
            With those and a bit more rotational ingenuity, one is not far from making the whole projectile out of solid carbide. Hmmm…a solid carbide 7.62×39 projectile with a full length 3/32 pure tungsten core. ……

  2. That would be a neat trick, stopping any and all projectiles and explosions. At least while being able to walk…

  3. Well, the suit is a cute little mock up or dare I say (Mockba) 🙂 but I like the thinking here about penetrating rounds….for when the maggots bring out there real toys….

    1. That last tooling scenario, I believe would penetrate anything they have, including some medium armored street vehicles, let alone anything worn. It would turn a AR15 pea shooter into a real weapon to be feared.

  4. While I’m all for using ingenuity and creativity for making better penetrators, well-placed shots at the non-armored points make all the “cutting edge” body armor inconsequential. Good info above, thanks for some of the ideas.
    All planning and force must be met with superior planning and force.

    (And don’t forget fire, gentlemen…fire is not only a good close-up weapon, but a hell of a fear and panic inducer).

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