The Reality Check: Why You Won’t See Power Armor on the Battlefield Anytime Soon

The dream of a soldier clad in power armor, effortlessly lifting heavy objects, impervious to small arms fire, and moving with superhuman speed, is a staple of science fiction. Fallout, Iron Man, and countless other franchises have ingrained this image into our collective consciousness. But the glaring question remains: Why, with all our technological advancements, are our soldiers not stomping around in advanced exoskeletons today?

The simple answer is that power armor, as depicted in fiction, remains firmly in the realm of fantasy. The real-world challenges are numerous, complex, and, at present, largely insurmountable. We’re not talking about mere engineering hurdles; we’re talking about fundamental limitations in physics, materials science, and energy storage. The concept faces significant problems in power, mobility, protection, and cost.

The Weighty Problems: Power, Protection, and Practicality

Let’s break down the major stumbling blocks preventing the widespread adoption of power armor:

• Power Source and Endurance: This is arguably the biggest hurdle. The kind of power output needed to enhance strength, run actuators for movement, and power onboard systems like sensors and life support is immense. Today’s batteries, even the most advanced lithium-ion variants, simply don’t offer the energy density required for a practical combat duration. Fusion power, a staple of science fiction like in the Fallout games, remains decades away from miniaturization, if it’s even possible. Existing exoskeletons that provide some level of assistance typically rely on bulky external power sources or have extremely limited battery life, rendering them unsuitable for sustained combat operations. The article excerpt mentioned that the exoskeleton needs to be able to carry its own power source, highlighting the importance of addressing this limitation in order for it to stand the rigours of the battlefield.

• Protection vs. Mobility: The article highlights the trade-off between protection and mobility. While adding thick plates of steel or advanced composites would certainly increase protection, it would also drastically reduce mobility and increase weight, defeating the purpose of enhanced strength. Finding a material that is both lightweight and capable of stopping high-velocity projectiles is a constant challenge. Metal can stop bullets, but only when there’s a lot of it. This leads to weight issues. Furthermore, even if a material could withstand a direct hit, the sheer force of the impact could still cause significant blunt force trauma, rendering the user incapacitated.

• Mobility and Agility: Power armor needs to be more than just strong; it needs to be agile. Soldiers need to be able to navigate complex terrain, climb, crawl, and react quickly to threats. Current exoskeleton designs often struggle to replicate the natural fluidity and responsiveness of human movement. Imagine trying to run through a forest or climb a wall in a bulky, robotic suit.

• Cost and Maintenance: Even if the technical challenges were overcome, the cost of developing, producing, and maintaining power armor would be astronomical. Each suit would likely cost millions of dollars, requiring specialized technicians and extensive logistical support. The military already faces significant budget constraints; mass-producing and deploying power armor would be financially unsustainable. The article excerpt mentioned that developing and maintaining power armor can be difficult and expensive.

• Human Factors: Designing power armor that interfaces seamlessly with the human body is another complex problem. The suit needs to respond intuitively to the soldier’s movements, providing assistance without hindering dexterity or causing fatigue. Issues like heat management, waste disposal, and psychological impact also need to be addressed.

• The Ever-Evolving Battlefield: Modern warfare is constantly evolving. Power armor needs to be adaptable to a wide range of environments and threats. It also needs to be upgradable to incorporate new technologies and counter emerging threats. As the article highlighted, a Level IIIA ballistic plate weights 2 kilos and only covers your heart and lungs and liver, further complicating the design and making comprehensive coverage difficult.

What We Have: Exoskeletons vs. Power Armor

It’s crucial to distinguish between exoskeletons and the power armor of science fiction. Exoskeletons, which do exist in various forms, are typically designed to augment strength and endurance for specific tasks, such as lifting heavy objects in warehouses or assisting individuals with mobility impairments. These devices are often tethered to external power sources or have limited battery life and offer minimal ballistic protection.

They are far removed from the fully self-contained, combat-ready power armor depicted in fiction. While exoskeletons have potential applications in logistics and support roles, they are not a substitute for the protective and offensive capabilities envisioned for true power armor.

The Future of Soldier Enhancement

While true power armor remains a distant dream, research and development efforts are focused on incremental improvements in soldier enhancement technologies. This includes lighter and more effective body armor, improved load-bearing systems, advanced sensors and communication devices, and, yes, continued development of exoskeletons for specific tasks. The focus is on enhancing the soldier’s capabilities within the constraints of practicality and cost.

Ultimately, the development of true power armor will require breakthroughs in several fields, including energy storage, materials science, robotics, and human-machine interfaces. Until those breakthroughs occur, the power armor we see in movies and video games will remain firmly rooted in the realm of science fiction. One day, perhaps, simulations and games of power armor will have to be revised and made to reflect reality. You can learn more about how games influence learning at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Power Armor

1. Why don’t soldiers wear full-body armor now?

Full-body armor is heavy, cumbersome, and restricts movement. Modern military strategy prioritizes mobility and agility. Soldiers wear armor on the most vulnerable parts of their bodies, like the torso, where vital organs are located. The enemy aims for the center of the chest because it’s a lot easier to hit than the head.

2. Could ancient armor stop a bullet?

Generally, no. While some specific examples of exceptionally well-crafted ancient armor might deflect a low-caliber, low-velocity bullet, most medieval armor would offer little protection against modern firearms. High-powered rounds such as .30–06, .303 British, 8mm Mauser, 7.62x54R, 5.56/7.62 NATO, 5.45/7.62×39 FMJ rifle rounds could penetrate medieval armor and you from hundreds of meters away.

3. Why don’t soldiers wear leg armor?

As the article mentioned, soldiers generally don’t wear leg armor because it significantly hinders movement. Modern soldiers sacrifice limb protection for mobility. Armor thick enough to stop bullets would greatly inhibit movement of the arms and legs.

4. Why don’t soldiers wear bulletproof masks?

Bulletproof masks have several drawbacks: They obscure vision, are heavy, don’t “breathe” (leading to overheating), and can appear unfriendly to the civilian population. Furthermore, many are not effective against high-powered rifle rounds. The article mentioned that the masks would be useless against a 7.62×39mm bullet from a Kalashnikov rifle.

5. Why don’t US soldiers wear bulletproof vests that are truly “bulletproof”?

There’s no such thing as truly “bulletproof” armor. All armor has limitations. The goal is to provide a balance between protection, weight, and mobility. Soldiers wear ballistic plates that protect vital organs, but it’s impossible to move around in anything that would be invulnerable to 5.56mm let alone 7.62mm.

6. Has anyone ever blocked a bullet with a sword?

No. Deflecting a bullet with a sword is physically impossible. It’s a popular trope in fiction, but it has no basis in reality. The article stated that this is one of those things that’s impossible in real life.

7. Can chainmail stop a knife?

Chainmail offers good protection against slashing attacks, but the point of a knife can often penetrate the rings. The article mentioned that it is not quite so good at resisting penetration, in that the point of a knife will easily pass through a ring.

8. Can a sword cut through plate armor?

Very unlikely. A sword might dent plate armor under ideal circumstances, but cutting through it is virtually impossible.

9. Why don’t we use chainmail anymore?

Chainmail was time-consuming and expensive to manufacture. Gunpowder weapons eventually made the heavy and expensive armoured suits of the medieval period obsolete. The excerpt mentioned that it was mainly used to protect knights, higher soldiers and nobles.

10. Can 9mm rounds penetrate body armor?

Standard 9mm full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds typically cannot penetrate high-level body armor. The relatively lower velocity and energy of these rounds limit their penetrative ability.

11. Did the Chinese have power armor?

According to the article, no, they had stealth armor instead of power armor.

12. How heavy is full plate armor?

A complete suit of plate armor made from well-tempered steel typically weighs around 33–55 lb (15–25 kg). The weight of the armour was spread evenly throughout the body.

13. How heavy is the power armor in Fallout?

The weight varies depending on the model but is generally several hundred pounds, or around 136-272 kilograms.

14. What is the oldest power armor according to Fallout lore?

The T-45 power armor, deployed in 2067 to the American infantry in China.

15. What are some of the technical challenges in creating power armor?

The article mentions that there are still many technical challenges to be overcome in order to create a power armor system that is lightweight, durable, and easy to use, while also providing enough power to enhance the soldier’s strength.