Ratnik combat gear

Nice article with comments from Murakhowsky about active exoskeletons like the ones to be included in Ratnik-3 and their possibilities:

http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5494

Nice article with comments from Murakhowsky about active exoskeletons like the ones to be included in Ratnik-3 and their possibilities:

http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5494

 According to the editor-in-chief of the journal Arsenal of the Fatherland Victor Murakhovsky, the exoskeleton will increase the mobility of soldiers and awareness on the battlefield

Sergey Fadeichev / TASS
MOSCOW, August 27.  / TASS /.  The active exoskeleton will increase several parameters of the combat effectiveness of the soldier: mobility, including in conditions of the Far North, awareness on the battlefield due to a multitude of sensors, accuracy of the use of weapons, will increase security in several times.  This was told TASS by the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Victor Murakhovsky.
As previously reported in TSNIItomash, in Russia, a prototype of an active exoskeleton with installed electric motors and a battery was tested: the tester was able to accurately hit the targets while holding the machine gun with one hand.  It is planned that by 2025 such a modified exoskeleton will be included in the equipment of the third generation "Ratnik-3".

March on foot

According to the expert, first of all an active exoskeleton will increase the effectiveness of soldiers in the performance of marches and tactical maneuvers on the battlefield on foot.  "Especially when acting in the forest, in the mountains, in the Far North, in urban conditions, that is, where large energy costs are required, just to go to the designated area, make a maneuver to circumvent, cover the enemy," Murakhovsky explained.
He added that today the scope of movement during marches is limited not by the capabilities of technology, but by the physical capabilities of the fighters.  "We can say with confidence: when applying the exoskeleton, the existing standards of movement will be increased two to three times," the expert added.

In addition, the expert noted, a soldier in an exoskeleton with electric motors can take with him an increased ammunition, more water and food.  "We know from the experience of the military operations of our troops in Afghanistan that the fighters in the mountains had to carry an increased ammunition due to the reduction of the wearable food stock.It was quite an exhausting exercise.If such an exoskeleton existed, these questions would be lifted," says Glavred of Arsenal Fatherland, .

Firepower and security

According to Murakhovsky, the exoskeleton will significantly increase the combat capabilities of soldiers in terms of weapons.  "The high stability of the shooting, the more stable positions for the destruction of targets both from individual weapons, and from collective samples, such as machine guns," he noted.
In addition, the capabilities of an exoskeleton to lift weights and its source of energy "will enable the military to equip a large set of sighting systems," Murakhovsky notes.  "These complexes are also very energy-consuming, I mean thermal imagers, laser sights and range finders, opticolocation complexes, target designators, all of which can be built into the kit of each fighter's equipment," the expert said.
"Plus we will not forget that modern devices for integration into the command and control system - the same complex" Sagittarius "- also" eat "electricity is not small," he added.
At the same time, Murakhovsky believes that, despite its power capabilities, it is unlikely that exoskeletons will be used in hand-to-hand combat.  "In modern war, given its most powerful means of destruction, hand-to-hand combat can only take place as an exception," the expert explained.
Speaking about the individual defense of the soldier in the exoskeleton, he noted that today for one serviceman the maximum of the cargo carried without special loss of combat capability is 28-30 kilograms, including the means of protection.  "The exoskeleton will raise this limit to 70-80 kilograms, and this will allow several times to increase security through the use of more developed and heavier means of protection," Glavred noted.

The main problem is the battery

The expert noted that now the main problem in Russia and in other countries developing exoskeletons is the creation of small and capacious batteries.  "When talking about two or three hours of action on existing sources - it's about nothing." At least a day the battery should work with the full functionality of the exoskeleton, "Murakhovsky said.
The expert specified that, given the problematic nature of replacing such power sources in the field, it would be good to have a battery life guarantee for two days.  It is also necessary to have field sources of charging batteries or solar cells, but do not require an extra to carry a volumetric generator - this will only expend the energy of the exoskeleton.
Commenting on the possibility of charging exoskeletons from combat vehicles, Murakhovsky noted that "the exoskeleton is primarily intended for actions on foot in battle formation in isolation from the motorized forces."  "It makes no sense to use an exoskeleton in motorized rifle divisions operating in the area that is available for armored vehicles, where the exoskeleton can be used by support units for faster replacement of parts, units, assemblies, and field repairs," the expert said.

Rostec is working on the equipment of the "Warrior" of the fourth and subsequent generations

They will use active exoskeleton, micro-drones and systems with artificial intelligence, said a representative of the state corporation Sergey Abramov


MOSCOW, February 26. / TASS /. Rostec develops the fourth and subsequent generations combat equipment of the “Warrior”, in which active exoskeletons, micro aerial pilots, systems with artificial intelligence will be used. About this TASS reported the industrial director of a cluster of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemistry of the state corporation Sergey Abramov.

"Work on future generations of equipment is underway, we have enough scientific and technical groundwork for this ... There will probably be some kind of robotic complexes, not only with the integration of artificial intelligence, but still with human participation. The possibility of using active exoskeletons is being studied , micro ammunition systems, new weapons, "said Abramov.

He noted that very often science fiction writers anticipate technological development. According to the industrial director of the cluster, a conceptual view of the “Warrior-4” can be obtained from their works.

To date, TsNIITOCHMASH (part of Rostec) has completed research work on Ratnik-3 and forwarded its results to the Ministry of Defense in order to receive recommendations and an order to conduct development work.

"Warrior-3" is the equipment of a fundamentally new level for all component systems - protection, destruction, life support, control and energy supply. Earlier it was reported that the option of equipment will be the same for the Airborne and Land Forces of Russia.

Electronic "visor" "Warrior-3" will direct personal weapons at the target on the laser beam. Equipment can get into its composition an active exoskeleton, which increases the capabilities of the fighter's musculoskeletal system.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6157867

magnumcromagnon wrote:First look at the passive exoskeleton for Ratnik (at the 20:35 mark):

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They say it was tested successfully by Sappers/Engineering troops in Syria. Apparently it increases carry weight by 30 kilos.

I think the main advantage of this equipment is that it removes fatigue. You can sleep standing up in it. The sapper units in Syria
had to take breaks every three hours since they had heavy equipment in front and on the back. With this exoskeleton they managed
to work all day with a lunch break.

Powered exoskeleton units are not being deployed because there is no battery technology available that stores enough power and
lasts long enough.

GarryB wrote:But the first generation ones will be crap.

I think we are already seeing enough of a revolution. No need to teleport into sci-fi utopia overnight.

The problem with all the sci-fi exoskeleton concepts is that they have contradictory features. Wrapping a tank around
a soldier makes no sense. No amount of armor is going to save soldiers lives since increasing firepower will be used to
counteract it. Even if they are powered, these sci-fi exoskeletons are cumbersome and where armor and firepower are
needed, tanks (of all flavors), MLRS and artillery are available. If carrying loads is important, then we already have trucks
of all types.

The only feature that is useful from some of the sci-fi concepts is jet packs that greatly increase mobility in urban and
rough terrain locations. But jet packs are like spaceship hyperdrives, mystical nonsense since no soldier is going to
carry around huge amounts of propellant. When we develop magical high energy plasma propulsion driven by portable
nuclear fusion generators, then we can start thinking about such tech.

The non-powered design that is about to be deployed in the Russian army is a revolution. The level of fatigue removal
is spectacular. This directly translates into a multi-fold increase in soldier effectiveness. During wars, soldiers basically
do not sleep. This kills their utility substantially. Imagine if they could catch even sporadic sleep while standing up
in trenches. They can also fall asleep easier with reduced fatigue. Fatigue prevents normal sleep to begin with.

Do not judge this tech using sci-fi BS. This is not some primitive tech that needs to mature into sci-fi fantasy. It is
a distinct tech that already achieves what it sets out to do.