U.S. Special Operations Command's Iron Man Suit Has Been Cancelled

Task & Purpose: SOCOM's Iron Man suit is officially dead

Long before Tony Stark took a load of shrapnel to the chest in a distant war zone, science fiction legend Robert Heinlein gave America the most visceral description of powered armor for the warfighter of the future. Forget the spines of extra-lethal weaponry, the heads-up display, and even the augmented strength of an Iron Man suit — the real genius, Heinlein wrote in Starship Troopers, "is that you don't have to control the suit; you just wear it, like your clothes, like skin."

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WNU Editor: Russia's military has not given up on this technology .... This is Russia’s ‘next generation’ combat armor suit — and it’s straight out of RoboCop (Military Times).

The U.S. Military Will Soon Have Their 'Iron Man'Suit

CNN: U.S. military is on its way to getting its Iron Man

(CNN)After an American commando died kicking in a door during a raid in Afghanistan, the top commander of U.S. Special Operations vowed to prevent similar tragedies.

Two years later, the U.S. military is closer than ever to putting Iron Man on the front lines -- or at least something that closely mirrors the superhero's tech-forward suit of armor.

Unlike Hollywood's, the suit won't give its operator the ability to fly, but the real-life body armor may have one leg up on the fictional version: The military's suit will be made of liquid armor that can solidify on command.

Fitted with the protective gear -- the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS -- troops would be more lethal and better protected, particularly the vulnerable first soldier to breach a compound.

Update #1: The Department of Defense plans to unveil its Iron Man-style TALOS suit in 2018 -- Digital Trends
Update #2: U.S. Military To Deliver Its First Bulletproof, Weaponized Iron Man Suit In 2018 -- Tech Times

WNU Editor: Liquid armour .... what was science fiction in the past is reality of today.

The U.S. Navy Wants It's Own 'Iron Man' Suits

Lockheed Martin’s Fortis exoskeleton (Courtesy Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract To Test Iron Man-type Exoskeletons -- Washington Post

The movie “Iron Man” popularized the idea of a futuristic warfighter waging battle in a exoskeleton. The Defense Department recently procured two from Bethesda-based contractor Lockheed Martin for far more prosaic missions.

The lightweight, load-bearing exoskeletons will be used to assist the Navy’s ship maintenance crew in performing tasks that require heavy lifting. Lockheed has developed two exoskeleton suits, and the contract is to test and evaluate them, the company said. The suits will be tested on both coasts – one at Virginia’s own Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the other at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in the state of Washington.

“Ship maintenance often requires use of heavy tools, such as grinders, riveters or sandblasters,” Adam Miller, director of new initiatives at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said. “By wearing the Fortis exoskeleton, operators can hold the weight of those heavy tools for extended periods of time with reduced fatigue.”

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Update: U.S. Navy To Test Lockheed's Real-Life Iron Man Suit -- Investors Business Daily

My Comment: Forget the US Navy .... I need one to help me with the chores around my home.

Iron Man-Style Helmet Being Developed For Soldiers

Iron Man-Style Helmet will Help Soldiers Pinpoint Targets On The Battlefield - And Avoid Shooting Comrades By Mistake -- Daily Mail

* Q-Warrior helmet mounted display system was developed by BAE Systems
* It can help soldiers pinpoint targets and waypoints during conflicts
* Similar tech is already used by pilots, and featured in the Iron Man films
* Military researchers claim the helmet is 'exceeding expectations in tests'
* The battery-powered display comes with a GPS unit and video camera
* It will also highlight nearby comrades to avoid friendly fire attacks

Soldiers could soon be equipped with Iron Man-style helmets that help them pinpoint targets quickly and easily on the battlefield.

The Q-Warrior helmet-mounted display, designed by defence contractor BAE Systems, uses similar technology to that used by jet pilots in fighter planes and mimics the display used in the Iron Man films.

It’s currently undergoing tests in the U.S., but military researchers have said the tech is ‘already exceeding expectations.'

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More News On The Q-Warrior Helmet

'Iron Man' helmet designed for the battlefield -- The Telegraph
BAE Systems one step ahead with its ‘Iron Man’ helmet -- Yorkshire Post
Heads-up display for soldier helmet -- MSN News
BAE brings Iron Man tech to the battlefield -- City AM
Augmented reality helmet for soldiers exceeds expectations -- E&T
Q -Warrior brings head-up displays to the battlefield -- Gizmag

Expect U.S. Special Forces To Use ‘Iron Man’ Suits By 2018

Adm. McRaven: Expect Special Forces ‘Iron Man’ Suits By 2018 -- Washington Times

Officially, it’s called the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit. Unofficially, it’s called the “Iron Man” suit. Regardless, Adm. William McRaven, the man in charge of U.S. Special Operations Command, expects America’s special operators to be outfitted with the advanced gear by 2018.

“Several years ago during a hostage rescue operation in Afghanistan, a SOF (special operations forces) warrior was killed going through the door. Afterwards, one of the young officers asked me a question I couldn’t answer. He said, ‘after all these years in combat, why don’t we have a way to protect our operators going through the door?’” Adm. McRaven told attendees of a National Defense Industrial Association symposium on Tuesday, Stars and Stripesreported.”

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More News On US Special Forces Working On An 'Iron Man' Suit

Special ops chief McRaven expects ‘Iron Man’ suit by 2018 -- Stars and Stripes
SOCOM working on 'Iron Man' suit -- Army Times
Top Commando: Iron Man Suits Coming Soon -- The Complex/Foreign Policy
'Iron Man' Suit Prototype Ready For Military Testing This Summer -- NBC
US military's 'Iron Man' armor will be ready for testing by June, says admiral -- The Verge
'Iron Man' Suits For US Special Ops Forces Are Almost Ready For Testing -- Business Insider
Special Operations Command Wants X-Prize to Develop 'Iron Man' Suit -- National Defense