Real Life Iron Man Armor Commissioned by US Military

Because people don't already have enough trouble distinguishing reality and fiction.
This article is over 10 years old and may contain outdated information

Recommended Videos

The US military has gotten it in their heads that the best way to support our troops would be to allow them to walk through a hail of bullets like Iron Man. We couldn’t agree more.

The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit would provide its operator with enhanced physical abilities like night vision, super strength, and yes, even protection from gunfire. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for cosplayers in the military.

We’re crossing our fingers that repulsor gloves are on the way. Maybe Master Chief’s SPARTAN armor with a built in shield is more your thing? Either way, it’s pretty exciting that there are people out there actively trying to make this happen.

Unfortunately, the Army is still basically in the process of asking government researchers and private companies for proof of concept on how they’d build such a thing in the first place. It’s still a real thing they’re actively trying to accomplish, but it’s only slightly more real than the comic books at this point.

MIT has made some promising advancements, and they may be providing “liquid armor” technology. This causes a liquid to turn solid in milliseconds when a magnetic field or electric current is applied, similar to Batman’s cape in the Dark Knight trilogy.

It’d be great if this technology led to Iron Man and Batman, or it could be terrifying and lead to the T-1000. Or both, and they could fight and get sued for intellectual property rights and stuff. Either way, it’ll be exciting to see what the research firms come up with.

(via The Verge and US Army, image via HarshLight)

Meanwhile in related links


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Dan Van Winkle
Dan Van Winkle
Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct Geekosystem (RIP), and then at The Mary Sue starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at Smash Bros.