http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_exoskeleton

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=109_1195663753

It'll be scary as hell to see an army in things like this.

Errr, HELLZ YES!

I realize it's not new, and probably not too related too Fallout Lore, but close enough.

Especially the first picture in that Wiki article, it's almost like the Hei Gui armor honestly.

Anyone see the jap. power armor in the bottom right of the wiki page?! They already are developing it!!!!! HURRY START BUILDING STEALTH ARMOR!

I don't see any practical application of powered armor in modern combat. Now the one plus, is that it might provide better ballistic protection, but it seems too cumbersome compared to ballistic vesting & webbing.

There's plenty of options. Superior defensive capabilities, strength enhancement, better protection from IED's, etc.

Being that warfare in this generation is very mobile(ie: in Afghanistan and Iraq), the whole idea of one of the boys on the ground, loaded up with more gear, makes no sense in my mind. Perhaps as a tool for the boys behind the wire, an exo-rig might be a great tool...but in the field, I don't think that even a set of powered armor would have any survivability against IED's. I can't even see a set of powered armor employed in force protection, as most FP tems are either stationary, and ones that are mobile, have to be able to respond to threats quickly.

I see lots of applications. Troops could carry and use heavy weapons with no problem. Troops using this armor could I think actually use a mini-gun. Imagine a whole platoon or company of them. They'd clear out a town full of insurgents in short order..
Power armor would also allow troops to carry much heavier loads of supplies and ammunition, i.e. stay in the field for much longer. And also cover a lot more ground, because they wouldn't get tired as easily. I see a LOT of uses for this!

Even in Fallout lore Power Armor wasn't worn by everyone, it was only used by small heavy assault and support teams (Operation: Anchorage). Most American soldiers still used Combat Armor in the field even after the introduction of T-45d and T-51b power armor.

It's like tanks, which always were only a small section of land forces.

No disrespect, but you're an idiot if you think this.
I have actually BEEN in urban style combat. To be armored up like a tank would damn near trivialize small arms fire and that's 99.9% of the headache when clearing buildings.

Spoken like a true grunt

well since it's the grunts who do the clearing of buildings etc. in urban warfare, i'd say he probably has the most valid opinion.
and i also agree with him, urban warfare is exactly what this type of armor would be designed for meaning that the opposing forces would stand little to no chance of actually stopping your ground forces would be essential in that type of environment, meaning that pockets of resistance can be quickly terminated without risk to your own troops.

and since most battles today where infantry is concerned anyway is urban warfare (or atleast cramped surroundings) this is exactly what is needed.

Something like that video wouldn't be very useful in pure combat - a bullet will kill you regardless of how strong you are. However, the potential for (I'm on a fallout board, so:) power armour is there. Make you stronger, and you can carry a lot more weight. More weight means more protection. An army of them would be prohibitively expensive, but a shock team of soldiers that bullets don't drop, who can run practically indefinitely, see in the dark, break down walls (Not exaggerating, a large mass against a thin wall? Guess who'll win) would be enough to strike fear into the hearts of almost anyone.

Well it would be certainly useful for heavy lifting. :tops:

For instance arming planes on a aircraft carrier. Things could get much easier and faster with it and also less personnel would be requiered on deck for the job.
It could also find its place in resupply or with pioneers. Simply at all places where exhausting work has to be done as quickly as possible and where a power supply is at hand.

Christ, and we wonder why they crash planes into buildings? That's absolutely ridiculous, go ahead, antagonize the poor and historically repressed countries even more, show them how futile it is to fight fair. And how easy would it be for us to become conquering marauders with something like that. Hell, I'm terrified of an American army of powered armor troops, and I'm born and raised here. I thought automatic grenade launchers were overkill, and now this.

With such advances, how else are other countries supposed to compete? By using the dirtiest underground tactics imaginable. These advances only endanger us, not empower.

Even if we did create Power Armor, it'd be expensive to mass produce. It'd probably be around the same amount as a tank or aerial fighter because of all of the gadgets and gizmos used to give Power Armor its advantages.

If you have to fight fair, you have already lost. When *I* go into combat, I don't give a flying [censored] about fighting fair. I care about killing the other guys before they kill us.

Historically, we have not used amazing advantages like this for our own gain. And example being the 4 years of nuclear monopoly.
Look what Hitler did in 4 years, now think of a nation that came out on top of the war with nuclear aims on the rest of the world.
Have some faith dude, and get your head out of hippie land.

Power armor WOULD be expensive no doubt, but if history has taught us anything, it's that a major strength of the US has been its ability to out produce and out develop its war time opponents.

I am going to ask about getting in on this, personally, I would LOVE to be one of the testers.

As would we all.

Haha power armor, some people have been watching wayyy to much 'Iron Man', hmm I might watch that right now actually...

I think making this stuff wouldn't be 'unfair' fighting, because if one country was making it you can sure as hell bet others are too, and of course weapons made to counter this kind of armor. A few months ago I saw a doco about the Taliban using American tactical weapons and Humvees. If this stuff was out on the field they'd probably manage to get their dirty little hands on it too.

Also I don't see the military walking around with miniguns and heavy weapons that would need this stuff just to carry it anyway.

The more lead you can put downrange the better. We would totally carry around heavier weapons given the mobility enhancements.

I agree on some points... It would depend sometimes, on whether you needed heavy defense etc. Or whether you needed to move QUICKLY, clearing buildings etc.

Um cool?! :tops:

There is a use for that. Punch through weak buildings to avoid death traps. Oh, and punching heads off.

unless they can't get you out again for some reason...