Military Creates New “Iron Man” Suit
- By Sydny Shepard
- Nov 10, 2015
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, CNN reported.
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 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 compound.
Plenty of academics, defense industry experts and Pentagon personnel are trying to fine-tune the battery-powered exoskeleton, which would reduce strain on the body, provide superior ballistic protection and in-helmet technologies to boost communications and visibility.
Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Matt Allen said the Defense Department does “not know how much TALOS will cost,” saying only that the Special Operations Command “has resourced an adequate amount of funds” to develop the suit.
The TALOS program has completed several prototypes and is on track to deliver a first-generation suit by August 2018.
About the Author
Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.