The SOCOM site, acronym for United States Special Operations Command or "United States Special Operations Command" recently launched a new site to promote the elite soldier of the future, a commando equipped in a similar way to the characters of blockbusters Hollywood as in the Iron Man series by Marvel.
Despite marketing efforts by SOCOM, members of the House Armed Services Committee want to know all the details before financing the project. The Commission fears that the TALOS project will turn into a financial hole that would give a deadly blow to the already downsized US Defense budget (still shaken by the 500 million dollars burned for the Land Warrior project, canceled after ten years of development).
According to SOCOM, the TALOS project needs funding from 80 million dollars for the next four years.
What is TALOS?The "Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit" was first announced in October last year. The new one is intended only for 'Tier 1' operators. According to the official website of the US Army, the Special Operations Command of the US military is collaborating with the American defense industries, including MIT engineers, to develop a special bullet-proof exoskeleton that will cover the entire body of the soldiers, giving them also a " superhuman strength and greater ballistic protection ". The exoskeleton will probably be coated with a bullet-proof liquid, already developed by MIT researchers. The liquid contained inside hardens in a thousandth of a second when it is crossed by a magnetic field or an electrical impulse.
TALOS (in intentions) will improve the performance of special forces operators by providing them with a battery-powered exoskeleton capable of carrying heavy equipment. The armor is able to react instantly to environmental stimuli, monitoring the operator's physiological vital signs such as body temperature and heart rate.
The armor will incorporate a real on-board computer (GPS, internet, encrypted communication systems) as well as night / infrared displays. TALOS will also be able to treat wounds suffered in combat, releasing a particular anti-hemorrhagic foam on the part hit by the enemy bullet (a technique of this kind, taken from the natural world, is also used in aeronautics with a possible use on fifth / sixth generation).
Finally, TALOS will provide complete life support to the operator. The armor will be air-conditioned and equipped with an autonomous respirator. For TALOS there is a lot of enthusiasm.
The commander of the Special Operations Command, Admiral William McRaven, referring to TALOS stated that "with this armor, our seals would be invincible on the battlefield."
The thought goes to one of the last operations conducted by special departments in Somalia. A commando formed by Navy Seal, in a mission aimed at capturing the leader of Al-Shabaab, suspected of being the instigator of the attacks in the US embassies in East Africa, was forced to interrupt the mission due to the heavy enemy fire. If the Seal had worn TALOS, the mission would have ended without problems. Even the secret services praise TALOS, turning its thoughts to the special forces. They would become invincible in combat, added some Defense officials who closely follow the evolution of TALOS. However, it has been reiterated that only the 1 (Seal / Delta Force) Tier will receive armor.
Despite recent publicity, research in the field of exoskeletal structures has been underway for more than a decade. Lockheed Martin, for example, recently tested his exoskeleton 'Hulc' in Afghanistan.
Obviously there are also criticisms of the project.
The problem is basically one. If the operator equipped with TALOS were to die in the field, it would give the enemy an impressive technology. So TALOS should also have a self-destruct system. In other words, it would mean pulverizing both the armor with all the technologies implemented and the soldier's body. Could the families of the men of the special departments, already unaware of the high-risk missions of their children, husbands and boyfriends, tolerate it?
The first advanced model of TALOS will be used in a field test in the 2018 (although not officially, it could already be tested in the coming months).
The acronym TALOS - they add from MIT - was deliberately chosen. TALOS, in Greek mythology, was the name of the bronze giant placed to protect Crete. However, like all myths, TALOS also has a weak point. In fact, armor today requires too many batteries to be fully functional. We have not yet - the American-style university concludes - the power source of Iron Man.
Franco Iacch
(photo: 1a prototype Darpa, 2a3a and 5a "HULC" by Lockeed Martin, 4a dracma graca depicting Talos)
