U.S. Special Operations Command wants its operators to be protected with what it informally calls an Iron Man suit, named after the fictitious superhero.
In September, U.S. Special Operations Command, called SOCOM, made a Broad Agency Announcement for proposals for prototypes of the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS.
The goal of TALOS is to produce ballistic protection to big Operations Forces, together with fire-retardant capability, said Michel Fieldson, TALOS lead, SOCOM.
“We sometimes confer with it because the Iron Man suit, frankly to draw the notice, imagination and excitement of industry and academia,” he said.
“We’re hoping to take products we’re developing in numerous technology areas and integrating them right into a consolidated suit to present more protection for the [Special Operations Forces].”
Other technologies include sensors, communications, energy and material that could store and release energy to avoid injuries and increase performance.
Materials which can store and release energy can be corresponding to the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis, now utilized by some wounded warriors for lower leg limb injuries.
So TALOS will be something that wounded warriors could gain advantage from, he said.
Besides wounded warriors, Fieldson said Homeland Security and firefighters have expressed an interest on this technology. Also, it may eventually become available for other Soldiers.
“Our goal right away is to check out to get the word out and convey industry partners together,” he said, because the technologies a good way to go into its development are varied and it’s unlikely one contractor will be ready to concentrate on the complete ensemble.
The traditional approach, he said, was to select a chief contractor, usually a standard defense partner, give them the design requirements and allow them to give you the answer. That may take many years, he noted.
“In this example, the govt stands out as the lead integrator and we’ll look to work with traditional or non-traditional partners in industry and academia who’re innovative,” he said. “We’ll leave no stone unturned.”
The goal, he said, is to start integrating capabilities over the subsequent yr and feature the primary suit ready for full field testing in four to 5 years.
Fieldson thinks TALOS becomes a reality because “it protects the warfighters and has the backing of SOCOM’s commander, Adm. William H. McRaven.
“I’m very committed to this,” McRaven said to industry representatives at a TALOS demonstration, July 8, 2013 in Tampa, Fla. “I’d like that last operator that we lost to be the last one we ever lose on this fight or the fight of the longer term; and that i think we are able to get there.
“I’m committed to this,” he continued. “At the top of the day, i would like you and industry to determine the way you are going to partner with one another to do something that’s right for America.”
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