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Sotnik: Russian troops' latest nuke-proof armor will be ready by 2025

The Sotnik armor, earlier called Ratnik-3, will have a built-in exoskeleton designed to boost strength and stamina, body armor, a target designation system on the visor, and a watch capable of surviving a nuclear blast

The Russian military is known for showing off its military developments and weapons of mass destruction. In 2016, reports emerged that Russia was developing a high-tech combat suit with a built-in exoskeleton designed to boost strength and stamina, body armor, a target designation system on the visor, and a watch capable of surviving a nuclear blast. The Sotnik armor, earlier called Ratnik-3, is supposed to launch in 2025.

"I think the most successful technical solutions from Ratnik will be included in it, but it will be an outfit of a totally new level by all components - protection, destruction, life support, control, and power supply, with the use of exoskeleton constructions, information and target designation on the visor or eyewear, microclimate maintenance, and the serviceman's condition monitoring systems," said Army Commander Oleg Salyukov. The Ratnik kit comprises five integrated systems that include life support, command and communication, engaging, energy-saving, and protection subsystems. It is designed to be used round-the-clock in all weather conditions.

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"The implementation of the project will allow to increase the performance of a soldier by 1.5 times in completing various tasks," Salyukov further added. The gear comprises a total of 59 items, including various bulletproof vests and protective helmets, a combat one-piece garment, a headset with active protection, protective glasses, a grenade launcher, assault rifles, sniper rifles, munition, a combat knife, round-the-clock reconnaissance devices, and unified optical and thermal imaging sights, reports TASS News Agency.

Dmitry Semizorov, the CEO of TsNIITochMash, the Russian industrial design bureau creating the Ratnik gear, revealed, "The newly-developed fabrics we use cannot be picked up by infrared detectors. They block the heat coming from the human body. Military personnel wearing such clothing remain invisible in the field to enemy helicopters' night-vision instruments."

"We have at our disposal certain information about the impact our product was exposed to in real combat. The helmets and armored vests turned out to be fully bullet-proof," Semizorov added, referring to the Ratnik gear having been tested during the Russian Aerospace Group's operation in Syria.

"Military specialists are developing operational requirements for the Sotnik gear, a principally new soldier of the future combat outfit. We expect to get the specifications for its development already in 2021," Rostec Industrial Director Bekkhan Ozdoyev said in 2020.

The second-generation Ratnik combat gear has been arriving for Russia's ground forces, the Airborne Force, and marines since 2016. The advanced third-generation combat gear, which was earlier titled Ratnik-3, was later re-named Sotnik.

"TsNIITochMash plans to start R&D work in 2020 on creating the third-generation all-arms force combat gear. The outfit intended to replace the Ratnik will get the name of Sotnik. Under the plans, the Sotnik third-generation outfit is due to replace the Ratnik already in 2025. This will be a principally new outfit to integrate the best hi-tech innovations of Russian enterprises, including Rostec companies. Thanks to the use of innovative materials and the combined functions of some elements, the outfit's weight will be cut by 20% to about 20 kg," said Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov in a statement.

"Very interesting to compare most of the images of Russians in the field in their shlumpy looking gear vs the Sotnik Combat armor they were showing off a few years ago," a user mused.