POWERED ARMOR SUITS

Overview

Body armor has been used in combat since the early ages of mankind. It is used to protect the wearer from attacks by enemies in both melee and ranged combat. Powered Armor Suits are no different in this respect, but they go a step further. They are the state-of-the-art in infantry tactical weaponry. In addition to providing protection to its wearer, Powered Armor also enhances the wearer's strength, speed, and situational awareness.

Suit Components

Inner Layer

The innermost layer of a power armor suit is a fire-retardant jumpsuit meant to protect the wearer in the case of fire and chemical agents. The material is breathable, and keeps the wearer comfortable.

Outer Layer

The actual armor plating of It is comprised of interlocking composite plates over the entire body. These plates can withstand light to moderate phaser fire and impact from projectile weapons. All joints are powered by motorized servos, which respond to and amplify the wearer's natural movements, enabling him to perform extraordinary feats of strength and agility.

Helmet

The helmet contains an advanced electronics system. Information from a combat tricorder unit, along with environmental and situational awareness can be imposed over the front faceplate for the user's information. The helmet also contains infrared and ultraviolet amplification equipment for low light missions and an air scrubbing system in the event of use in toxic atmospheres or biological warfare.

Mobility

Running

Using the Powered Armor's built-in servo-motors, the wearer is able to run at speeds up to 60 kph, depending on the exact suit model. While running, a powered armor suit moves in a long, loping stride, with a step of more than 10 meters. Running speed can be sustained for the duration of the wearer's physical endurance.

Jumping

From a standing start and using only the Powered Armor's servo-motors, the wearer can jump approximately 10 meters, depending on the exact suit model. Using the suit's Jump Jets, this distance can be boosted to a mile or more. Upon touching down, the wearer can immediately jump again, and in this fashion, leapfrog across the countryside in mile-long bounds.

The Jump Jets use a tremendous amount of energy, and continued use will quickly deplete the suit's power reserves.

Power

Powered Armor Suits are powered by a pair of microfusion generators. These generators supply all the energy needed for movement, including the Jump Jets, weapons, armor polarization, life support, and electronics. Fuel is synthesized by the suit from plain water, held in two pressurized tanks on the suit's back. Fully charged and with light use of the Jump Jets, a Powered Armor suit will run for up to 1 full day on 2 tanks of water. Heavy use of Jump Jets can diminish this time by half.

The water tanks can be refilled by the wearer in the field at any time given a fresh water supply, making the suit's power supply life indefinite.

Weapons

In addition to handheld weaponry, Powered Armor Suits can be fitted with a multitude of snap-on weapon systems ranging from small phasers to rockets powerful enough to destroy an entire city. Smaller weapons, such as phasers and grenade launchers, can be attached to hardpoints on the suit's forearms. Larger weapons, such as missile launchers and cannons, are attached to hardpoints on the suit's shoulders.

Defenses

Powered Armor suits have no shielding, but are coated in a special material which is resistant to moderate phaser fire. The composite plating is also impervious to projectile weapons. Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) suites come standard on Ninja and Shogun models, and can be installed on Ronin and Samurai models as dictated by mission requirements.

Sensors

All Powered Armor Suits have short-range sensors and targeting computers capable of tracking 1024 individual enemies simultaneously. In addition, Scout and Command suits have long-range sensors. On the battlefield, Combat suits use their short-range sensors to engage the enemy, and can be connected to Scout and Command suits via data uplink to also give every soldier a view of the 'big picture'

In addition to what the soldier carries in his hands, the A-25 model has attachment points on forearms and left shoulder for additional weapons. The available weapons and mobility of the A-25 model makes it ideally suited for melee combat and taking out the enemy infantry and smaller combat vehicles.

The Ninja suit sacrifices the shoulder hardpoint of the standard A-25 in favor of more powerful servomotors (for higher running speed), and sophisticated sensors, data uplink, and ECM modules.

Due to specific needs of the SAR mission, many of the standard equipment has been swapped out in favor of mission specific and critical components. On both suits, one of the forearm mounts is occupied by the same cutting tool used in starship construction. The other hardpoint can accept the same equipment that the A-25 series accepts. Both suits sensor capabilities have been upgraded with an integrated tricorder, which can display information directly onto the suit's HUD system. Additionally, both suits offer the wearer full hostile/hazardous environment protection.