Scientists in Russia revealed an advanced prototype combat suit on Thursday they designed for use by the Russian military, and the incredible gear looks like something out of the “Star Wars” film franchise.
According to a report by the Daily Mail (United Kingdom), the suit, designed by the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building in Moscow, features a water-resistant, flame-proof suit; a helmet that includes a built-in breathing apparatus and screen revealing “target information”; a titanium-reinforced exoskeleton connected to a computer, allowing soldiers to carry more weight and for additional periods; and bulletproof boots embedded with mine-detection sensors.
Oleg Chikarev, Central Research Institute’s deputy chief of weapons systems, said the company would like to “develop” the suit “within the next couple of years,” the Daily Mail reported.
The Russian military has previously shown it is interested in developing advanced weaponry and “Star Wars” super-suits for its elite military members. In December 2016, the Russian military announced it had equipped some of its soldiers with advanced white armor, rocket launchers and machine guns, and, incredibly, video footage was released showing their ability to fire weapons while skiing.
In April, Russia tested a 22-foot-long remote-controlled tank that was equipped with a 30 mm automatic machine gun, anti-tank guided missiles and the ability to use a flamethrower, according to the Daily Mail, which also reported the tank could travel up to 37 mph over land.
A report issued in April found Russia has dramatically increased its military spending. The report, published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, found Russia spent in 2016 $69.2 billion on its military, the third-highest figure in the world and a 5.9 percent increase compared to 2015. Only the United States and China spent more on their militaries, reported CNN.
Justin Haskins
