Russia Wants 300,000 ‘Iron Man’ Soldiers For Future Wars

 

EurAsian Times: Watch: Rostec Arms Russian Troops With 300,000 ‘Ratnik’ Exoskeleton Suits For Next-Gen Warfare 

Russia may soon create a contingent of 300,000 ‘Iron Man’ soldiers for future wars.

Russia’s premier defense contractor Rostec has delivered around 300,000 exoskeleton suits to the country’s military. 

The technology involved in these suits enables them to carry heavy equipment without affecting their movement. 

Known as ‘Ratnik combat outfits’, these suits have been supplied by the Central Research Institute of Precision Machine-Building (TsNIITochMash), which is a part of Rostec, over a period of eight years.

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WNU Editor: It looks like the U.S. military's exoskeleton program has problems .... The inside story behind the Pentagon’s ill-fated quest for a real-life ‘Iron Man’ suit (Task & Purpose). 

Update: Is this the future? .... France Says Its Developing Bionic Supersoldiers Because "Everyone Else Is Doing It" (Zero Hedge).

France Wants Bionic Soldiers

© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov 

Daily Mail: France is developing bionic soldiers resistant to pain with microchip-enhanced brain power and superior hearing 

 * Scientists also researching pills to keep soldiers awake for long periods of time 

 * Microchips will be designed to release calming substances and improve brains 

 * Scientists also trying to make implants for headquarters to track soldier location 

France is developing bionic soldiers resistant to pain and stress with microchip-enhanced brain power. 

The country's ethical committee of the armed forces ministry gave approval in order for France to keep up with countries which are already working on similar projects. 

Research is also being done to create pills which will keep soldiers awake for long periods and surgery to improve their hearing.

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Update #1: French army gets ethical go-ahead for bionic soldiers (CNN) 

Update #2: Super Soldiers Without Fear and Beyond Reproach: France Opens Way for Augmenting Its Military (Sputnik) 

WNU Editor: This is the next big thing. Enhancing soldiers via through biotech.

Cyborg Soldiers By 2050?

Universal Soldier

Popular Mechanics: The U.S. Army Expects to Field Cyborg Soldiers by 2050

Soldiers with super sight and telepathy could rule the battlefield in 30 years.

* The U.S. Army is trying to forecast what biomedically enhanced technologies could be available by 2050.
* The tech includes electronically super hearing, muscular control, and telepathic transfer of data.
* The Army fully expects to equip soldiers with such technologies, but what about the society that invents them?

The U.S. Army believes that a range of technologies could be available by 2050 that would effectively turn the average soldier into a cybernetically enhanced super soldier. A recent Department of Defense study predicted that enhanced vision, enhanced hearing, musculature control, and what amounts to telepathy would all become possible within 30 years, given the current pace of technological development.

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WNU Editor: I am not sure about the telepathy part, but I can see everything else being feasible. And who is to say that only soldiers will be the recipient of this technology. I can also see this being available to the general public.

Predicting Soldier Firepower In 2050

An illustration from Ubisoft's Ghost Recon Future Soldier. Ubisoft

Defense One: This Formula Predicts Soldier Firepower in 2050

Drawing trend lines across seven centuries suggests that tomorrow’s troops will rock some seriously heavy gear.

In 2050, exoskeleton-equipped soldiers could carry the sorts of heavy machine guns that are today mounted on vehicles, while tanks could be armed with howitzer-class cannons, according to a mathematical formula derived from seven centuries of weapons development.

To build the formula, Army Research Laboratory scientist Alexander Kott carefully scrutinized the performance attributes of weapons across the years, starting with crossbows and proceeding through muskets and tanks.

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WNU Editor: After seven centuries we have certainly travelled a long way from the crossbow.

U.S. Military Researchers Are Studying How Nutrition And Certain Drugs Can Enhance Sodiers Fighting In Combat

The Consumer Research Team at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center has posted an online questionnaire that will help the center's Combat Feeding Directorate determine the direction it will take with future operational rations. (Photo Credit: Michael Stepien, NSRDEC Combat Feeding Directorate)

Washington Times: Pentagon eyes controversial diet in bid to build more lethal warriors

Ditching carbs may be the key to military success in America’s future wars.

Top Pentagon officials say research has shown that human bodies in ketosis — the goal of the popular and controversial ketogenic diet — can stay underwater for longer periods, making the fat- and protein-heavy eating plan a potential benefit to military divers. It is one example of a rapidly growing trend as military researchers zero in on how nutrition and certain drugs can enhance how fighting men and women perform in battle.

But U.S. defense officials say they lack the legal authorities to dictate to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines what they can and cannot eat. Critics of the entire concept warn that the military is entering a danger-filled world if it begins ordering diets and drug protocols solely to build more lethal warriors.

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WNU Editor: My formula to stay in top shape (both body and mind) is .... sleep 7 hours minimum/eat healthy with the help from a nutritionist/aerobic-weight-flex exercises 5 times a week/stay away from stress/and put and keep myself in a situation that is always positive.

Pentahon Wants Super Soldiers AND 'Wonder-Dogs'

Zero Hedge: Is US Government Developing Real-Life Supersoldier, Wonder-Dog In New Research Program?

The US army has announced a new proposal for what really looks like a program to develop supersoldiers and wonder-dogs capable of fast healing, optimized physiological and mental performance, withstanding extreme environments, and wearing high-tech bio-enhancements and other gear.

According to documents from the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the "primary emphasis of the USSOCOM Biomedical, Human Performance, and Canine Research Program is to identify and develop techniques… for early intervention in life-threatening injuries, prolonged field care, human performance optimization, and canine medicine/performance."

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WNU Editor: I know that the Pentagon has always wanted "better" soldiers. But developing a superior military dog .... now that is something new.

Are Medically Enhanced 'Elite Super-Soldiers' The Trend For The Future?

Monica Torres, The Ladders: The future of work is medically enhanced ‘elite super-workers,’ report says

In the future, we will be competing against medically-enhanced workers who can work longer and harder than us. Artificial intelligence will make it easier to monitor our every move in the office. This may sound like science fiction, but it’s a likely reality, according to a new report by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The report, which drew upon a team of science researchers and a survey of more than 10,000 workers based in China, Germany, India, the U.K., and the U.S., predicts that rapid advances in technology, resource scarcity, and population demographics are among the key forces that would radically shape the future of work by 2030.

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WNU Editor: Drugs are already being used by soldiers to enhance their capabilities .... one can only imagine what the future will bring.

To Create A 'Super Soldier', These Are The 8 Technologies That The Pentagon Is Pursuing

Department of Defense

Logan Nye, Scout Warrior: New Future Soldier Power-Up Technology

Key emerging technologies being pursued by the US military

A US Marine pulls security near a poppy field in Peyo as Marines and Afghan soldiers patrol through the village in the Bala Baluk district in Afghanistan's Farah province, March 29, 2010.Staff Sgt. Nicholas Pilch via Wikimedia Commons

As Captain America and Iron Man prepare for their civil war, they probably don’t realize they have competition coming from the US military. The Department of Defense wants troops with super strength, telepathy, and immunity from pain. Here are 8 technologies the Pentagon is pursuing to create super soldie

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WNU Editor: I am not sure about telepathy and giving up on sleep .... but the other 6 technologies seem feasible.

Russia Unveils A Combat Suit That Resembles Star Wars Outfits

RT: Russian military lab unveils prototype of Star Wars-like combat suit (VIDEO)

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.

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More News On Russia Unveiling It's Combat Suit Of The Future

Stormtrooper 2017: Russia unveils its hi-tech motorised 'Star Wars' armour for soldiers complete with exoskeleton, night vision and helmet -- Daily Mail
Russia unveils ‘Star Wars’-like combat suit for future warfighters -- Washington Times
Russia reveals ‘Star Wars’ combat uniform -- The Nation
Russia Just Unveiled A High-Tech Combat Suit Straight Out Of ‘Star Wars’ -- Task & Purpose

US Special Ops Wants Super Soldiers

Next Big Future: Special Ops interested in Drugs and more for Supersoldiers and strength enhancing exoskeleton armor

US Special Ops is looking to put Captain America Supersoldiers into HALO exoskeleton Armor.

Innovative solutions that will optimize human performance, reduce recovery time, and increase peak performance sustainability, including increased endurance, strength, energy, agility, enhanced senses, provide restorative effects of sleep, and enhance tolerance to environmental extremes. The technologies can be demonstrated through studies that provide proof of concepts or through solutions demonstrated in humans that quantify operational performance improvements. Technologies should not consist of new software applications, wearables, and additional studies on existing nutraceuticals that have been previously researched in depth.

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WNU Editor: In short .... what they want is this .... Better pharmaceuticals, coupled with better body armor protection and something like the TALOS (Iron Man) exoskeleton.

Is Russia Creating Bionic Superhuman Soldiers With Brain Implants?

© Photo: Pixabay

Sputnik: Pentagon Claims Russia Creating Bionic Superhuman Soldiers With Brain Implants

Turns out that the Pentagon appears to be speaking about programs they have sanctioned under DARPA in addition to similar efforts by the British military which have pretty close to nothing to do with Russia.

Top American military officials claim that Moscow is working to create “enhanced human operations” technology they say "scares the crap" out of them with the specter of stronger, faster, and more deadly super soldiers on the horizon according to the latest musings from the Pentagon.

In the bid to develop a superior fighting force, most countries are looking to weapons based around robotics, lasers and exoskeletons to create a real-life Iron Man, but the US military officials, perhaps in a bout of propaganda, suggest that Russia is focused on also augmenting human biology – think more X-Men than Iron Man – in order to create the most deadly fighting force in the world.

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WNU Editor: I have trouble believing this story .... but I have been reading developments and posting these stories on this blog for years, and it is not the Russians who are dong it .... it is the U.S..

Is The Era Of 'Super Soldiers' Upon Us?

Jon Harper, National Defense: How Technology Could Create 'Super Soldiers'

Popular culture has long been fascinated by the idea of enhancing human beings. From the 1970s TV show “The Six Million Dollar Man” to this year’s latest “Captain America” film, sci-fi writers have imagined what it would be like to give individuals extraordinary powers.

In the real world, scientists and engineers are working on a number of cutting-edge technologies to make U.S. troops faster, smarter and more resilient than their normal selves.

Paul Scharre, a former Army Ranger and the director of the 20YY Future of Warfare Initiative at the Center for a New American Security, said performance-enhancers that are being explored could offer tremendous operational advantages for warfighters.

“What if we had an ‘on’ switch right before pilots were about to go into a dogfight and we could turn that switch on? Or right before infantry soldiers were about to go into combat we could turn that switch on? That would have profound … implications for warfare,” he said.

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WNU Editor: I give it 10 years before these "enhancements" become standard.

Squad X Is A Pentagon Program To Equip Its Front-Line Soldiers With The Latest Battlefield Technology

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency rendering of proposed developments for Squad X Core Technologies. Courtesy of U.S. military

David Axe, Reuters: What is Squad X, and how much will it change the U.S. Army?

The U.S. military has launched a program to equip its front-line soldiers with the latest battlefield technology. The Squad X initiative would give an Army or Marine Corps squad new computerized weapons, the latest smartphone-style communications and even easy-to-use robot helpers.

The program aims to help the troops "have deep awareness of what's around them, detect threats from farther away and, when necessary, engage adversaries more quickly and precisely," according to Army Major Christopher Orlowski, who's managing the Squad X effort on behalf of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon's cutting-edge science department.

Squad X is still just a concept. It'll be up to Orlowski, other DARPA officials and the defense industry to determine exactly what technology the program includes. But one thing is clear: The government wants to profoundly change the way squads move, communicate and fight.

The problem is, the military has tried these sorts of technical advances before. Several times, in fact. Not only did the previous attempts fail, they cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.

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WNU Editor: This is the third time that the Pentagon is trying to to equip its front-line soldiers with the latest battlefield technology .... maybe this time the Pentagon will succeed in this military’s high-tech squad makeover.

The Pentagon Wants 'Cyborg' Soldiers

Super Soldier

John Knefel, Inverse: How the Pentagon Is Building the 'Enhanced' Super Soldiers of Tomorrow

The world's militaries are in a race to expand human thresholds for pain and cognition. The U.S. is no exception.

In wide-ranging remarks delivered last month, Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work suggested that the United States’ enemies are working on ways to develop super soldiers reminiscent of Captain America. “Now our adversaries, quite frankly, are pursuing enhanced human operations, and it scares the crap out of us, really,” Work said, according to FTAlphaville. “We’re going to have to have a big, big decision on whether or not we are comfortable with going that way.”

He didn’t elaborate on what he meant by “enhanced human operations,” but the phrase refers to any sort of biologically altered soldier with capabilities superior to a normal person. Notably, Work didn’t close the door on that type of research and development, he just said it would be a profound question the military had to ask.

No doubt it would be, but it’s more than a little disingenuous for Work to pretend that the United States hasn’t looked into exactly this topic in its recent history. Or, in fact, that they’re not researching it right now.

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Update #1: The government’s top scientists have a plan to make military cyborgs (Tech Insider)
Update #2: The US military is working on tech that could turn soldiers into cyborgs (Science Alert)

WNU Editor: The Pentagon is not the only one who is looking for ways to "enhance" their soldiers .... Russia and China Have Started Enhancing Humans for Battle (Top Secret Writers).

U.S., Russia, And China Are In A Race To Have 'Super Soldiers' And Artificial Intelligence

Next Big Future: USA, Russia and China among early entrants in race for Super Soldiers and Artificial Intelligence.

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work warned that America would soon lose its military competitive advantage if it does not pursue technologies such as employing artificial intelligence.

Altering human beings from the inside to more effectively fight in combat is claimed to presents ethical dilemmas for American scientists and military planners.

Work says those ethical concerns typically don't apply to authoritarian governments like Russia's or China's, but their lack of hesitation in developing EHOs may force America's hand.

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WNU Editor: I always find it fascinating that what was once labelled science fiction is now being seriously developed today. This is one of those cases.

The Pentagon Wants To Build An Army Of Super-Soldiers

The Pentagon's skunk works is creating technology to build the 'super soldier' of the future. It envisions using augmented reality to help ground troops identify targets, sources of gunfire and help with communication

Daily Mail: US military reveals it hopes to use artificial intelligence to create cybersoldiers and even help fly its F-35 fighter jet - but admits it is ALREADY playing catch up

* Darpa says it envisions using augmented reality to help ground troops
* It will identify targets, sources of gunfire and help with communication
* To make this a reality, it has now awarded research contracts to several companies to develop the technology

The US military has revealed its plans for artificial intelligence on the battlefield - but admits enemies are already ahead of it.

It hopes AI will power everything from cybersoldiers to the targetting systems of the F-35 - but admits it has to catch up to commercial AI firms.

Deputy Defense secretary Robert Work said 'the commercial world has already made this leap.'

WNU Editor: I am sceptical of the AI stuff .... but the rest is becoming closer to reality with each passing day.

This Is What The Soldier Of The Future Will Look Like

Future Soldier. Graham Murdoch

Popular Science: The Future Of War: Soldier Enhancements

Grunts in the field will get a much-needed upgrade

Equipment upgrades will give soldiers an advantage on the battlefield of tomorrow.
Intelligence

Augmented reality combat goggles—such as those being developed by Israeli Defense Forces and for the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS)—will record everything a soldier sees. They will also provide an information overlay: The projected data could include navigation instructions, intelligence on enemy sites, and real-time translations of local languages.

Update: The Future of War Belongs to the Bots -- Fiscal Times

Previous post: Report: Drones And Supersoldiers Are The Future Of Warfare

WNU Editor: This is not your grandfather's army.

A Look At What Soldiers Of The Future Will look Like

Ubisoft

Patrick Tucker, Defense One/Government Executive: What the Fighter of the Future Will Look Like

The next 15 years will change troops’ gear in virtually every respect, from body armor to communications to robot interactions.

New technologies will replace a number of jobs in the next 15 years, but one occupation that’s unlikely to go away is the most dangerous one in the world—soldier. The Pentagon spends billions of dollars to make sure front-line troops are better armed and trained than any adversary they come across. But as commercial technology advances faster than the military can keep up, securing that edge is becoming an increasingly difficult proposition.

So how will technology change soldiering in the year 2030? Short answer: In virtually every respect, from body armor to communications to interactions with robots. Here are a few key areas:

WNU Editor: We have covered this story many times before .... but this is a good summary on some of the changes that are now coming down the pipeline.

The Rise Of The Super Soldier?

Developed by Ekso Bionics and Lockheed Martin, Hulc is a lower extremity exoskeleton powered by a lithium-ion battery that works to redistribute the weight across the hips and legs, allowing its operator to comfortably carry 200lbs (91kg) with less effort (graphic illustrated)

Daily Mail: Rise of the SUPER SOLDIER: Liquid armour, indestructible exoskeletons and weapons that never miss revealed as the future of warfare

* Soldiers of the future will be trained using virtual reality headsets
* Their bodies will be protected with self-healing armour and smart wetsuits
* US military has developed a bullet that changes course on way to its target
* And microdrones will help soldiers explore battlefields from a distance

War has been one of the greatest spurs to science in history.

Developments as diverse and far-reaching as space travel, superglue, duct tape and microwaves owe their origins beneath camouflage netting and behind sandbags.

Today's military innovations, though, are focused not just on getting the job done, but doing so as quickly as possible and bringing the soldiers home to their families in one piece.

WNU Editor: These concepts have been around for decades .... but it looks like the technology has finally caught up.

A Look At How The Pentagon Is Trying To Make Soldiers Stronger, Quicker, And Smarter

The HULC exoskeleton, which should let people carry up to 200 pounds with ease. (Lockheed Martin)

The Military Is Trying To Make Soldiers Stronger, Smarter, And More Amphibious -- Susannah Locke, VOX

In the past, much of military research has focused on building tools to make soldiers more effective on the battlefield: more powerful guns, better communications, stronger armor. But there is also research underway to improve the human body itself. The US military, academic researchers, and private companies are working together to maximize the capabilities of soldiers' bodies and brains.

Here are four of the most intriguing research projects:

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My Comment: And not a cent invested in making better and smarter Generals.