Russia reveals the latest version of its real-life 'Stormtrooper' armour
Complete with exoskeleton, smart helmet and watch that can withstand a nuclear blast
It might resemble something out of Star Wars, but this is the prototype for a combat suit that Russia hopes will give its soldiers the edge on the battlefields of the future.
The high-tech suit includes an exo- skeleton, designed to boost strength and stamina, body armour and even a watch capable of surviving a nuclear blast. The all- black kit also has a Stormtrooper- style helmet with a tinted glass visor and a mini task light poking out of the side.
E a rl i e r this month, Commander- in- Chief of the Russian Ground Forces Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov said in an interview 'We are completing the sci- entific research on creating the future layout of the Ratnik- 3 combat gear. The implementation of the project will allow to increase the performance of a soldier by 1.5 times in completing various tasks,' he said in the interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda paper.
According to Salyukov, the total weight of the gear will be reduced by 30%. The report says the the Ratnik kit comprises five integrated systems that include life support, command and communication, engaging, protection and energy saving subsystems. It is designed to be used round- the- clock in all weather conditions.
' The Ratnik comprises a total of 59 items including various bulletproof vests and protective helmets, a combat one- piece garment, a headset with active protection, protective glasses, a grenade launcher, assault rifles, sniper rifles, munition, a combat knife, round- the- clock reconnaissance devices and unified optical and thermal imaging sights,' it says.
Salyukov was earlier quoted by the media as saying that the Ratnik-3 kit being developed by TsNIITochMash will comprise an exoskeleton suit.
The armour was put on display at the National University of Science and Technology in Moscow. A model standing more than six- feet tall wore the suit while cradling a fearsome-looking firearm in a pair of black padded gloves.
His arms were covered in fabric patterned with camouflage print and protected by armoured plates marked with the Russian flag. On his legs were a pair of bulky shoes resembling ski boots, which were supported by a metal frame wrapped around the waist.
'[The kit will] use exoskeleton mechanisms, a display system to show information on faceshield or protective glasses and microclimate control and health moni- toring devices,' Salyukov was quoted as saying by the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily in October 2016.
A target designation system will be mounted on the helmet's faceshield, while the bulletproof vest will be able to stop several bullets.
' The level of technology and the reliability of the elements of servicemen's outfit is growing,' said Industrial Director for Rostec's Armament Cluster Sergey Abramov, according to russian news agency TASS.
The suit was created at the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building, a Moscow-based weapons development centre, RT reported.
Russia's military is keen to press ahead with plans to increase the use of robots, and tested a remote- controlled tank in April.