Pentagon's TALOS suit program fails due to power issues

In the United States, the TALOS program was initiated by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to develop an advanced combat suit aimed at addressing vulnerabilities experienced by Special Forces in the Global War on Terror. This initiative involved collaboration among multiple entities, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, and private firms such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Revision Military. The objective was to create the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, envisioned as an all-encompassing combat platform that could integrate advanced armor, sensors, communications, and exoskeleton technology. Intended for squad leaders in high-risk operations, TALOS aimed to enhance protection and mobility through innovative design and materials. Ultimately, the suit promised three times the coverage of standard body armor, while also providing significant weight reductions to alleviate the physical burden on users. However, the idea of creating a real-life Iron Man was thwarted by a significant technical hurdle: the lack of a compact and high-capacity power solution. Despite encouraging advancements in materials, including the use of lightweight polyethylene armor and magnetorheological fluids that could respond rapidly to external stimuli, the program was ultimately deemed unfeasible, and TALOS was canceled in 2019. In the wake of this cancellation, the global race for the development of combat exoskeletons and supersuits continued, with both China and Russia investing in similar technology as the need for enhanced military capabilities persisted.