Lancer Hard Suit

Camouflage

"If the enemy can't see you then they can't target you"

The modern battlefield brings a multitude of ways to detect a soldier. Using visual, low light, Infra-Red, Ground RADAR and Lidar, satellite tracking and motion tracking are just few of the ways a soldier can be detected. If an enemy knows where you are they can bring artillery on the area. Satellites are capable of tracking your footprints through the snow and counting eggs in a basket, search software can compare images and identify any difference. Drones and satellites are capable of pin-point accurate laser fire from miles away. Your shadow can be identified and then the well camouflaged soldier that goes with it. All of this needs to be defeated in some way for a soldier to stay alive and complete their mission.

The Lancer is covered in a coating of stealth nanite. These nanite are able to replicate their external environment and adapt accordingly. In much the same way as a cuttlefish can change colour so can these stealth nano. The Lancer is able to simulate the background and produce bands of colour, shade, and light. Moving patterns cause confusion to targeting and tracking systems as well as the human mk1 eyeball. Some of the stealth nano control the thermal output of the Lancer causing further EM disruption, whilst others disrupt the suits RADAR signature.

All of this helps to hide the soldier from modern sensors but it doesn't do away with a soldiers fieldcraft and training. Metallised smoke and sonic disrupters can interfere with detection systems once you are in contact improving the soldiers chances of survival.

Sensors

"This Shield can block any Spear - This Spear can pierce any Shield"  The Lying Merchant

As much as camouflage is good the sensors need to be better. A modern battlefield can be a game of hide and seek. With both sides trying desperately to find the other. 

The Lancer is fitted with a variety of sensors all of which can be displayed on the visors HUD. Multi spectral imaging can detect IR, UV, low light, RADAR, laser, radio, and a multitude of other bandwidths. Sensors and detection systems are fitted to the Lancer's helmet, body and weapon.

An advanced CNS analyses all of the incoming data and displays the information in a user customisable HUD. Anomalies can be identified. Audio can be filtered and soft sounds can be enhanced as required. The CNS can also be used to identify and tag targets, give artillery firing solutions, and update the weapons status.

A PIP facility gives a view through the weapons sights and a target reticule can be superimposed on to the field of vision improving target acquisition.

The Visor is made from a nanocellulose OLED screen that can display a 360/180 degree field of view. the edges of the HUD show a compressed image of the area around and above the soldier. The CNS can identify and react against threats as required.

The CNS links seamlessly with  the soldier's ICE wetwear and teamwear sharing target data and threat vectors via a wireless network.

Environmental

"Survive to Fight" is the old adage.

Although NBC warfare is unlikely amongst 1st world nations. Terrorist groups and some of the other nations are not shy of using chemical weapons on their own people, let alone an enemy nation. Also with off-world operations becoming the norm a soldier needs to be able to operate in a variety of environments.

The Lancer's sealed system atmosphere permits operations in a multitude of environments including NBC. Full environment control enables the soldier to operate effectively on arctic frozen deserts or a tropical jungle; from airless worlds to corrosive atmospheres. Having this ability reduces the soldiers required equipment and support logistics.

Armour

Skin Suit

"You try getting in to a skin suit in a rush. Even in training they gave us all night."

The skin suit is standard issue to British forces. It is used by all arms of Great Britain's military. The skin suit is a highly advanced protective and sensor layer. It is a skin tight fitted suit that covers the soldier from toe to neck. It is a multi-weave material that incorporates nano-carbon, diamond whisker, gold nano-wire, environmental weave, and a central nervous system artificial intelligence.

Armour Layer

"Yeah the armour might be able to stop most things. Doesn't mean that you ain't going to get hurt being thrown across the place after the impact though!"

Graphene aerogel is used over the entire body. Just over a million sheets of graphene (around 1mm thick) are embedded in to a non-Newtonian ballistic gel. This provides a flexible suit that immediately hardens when impacted against. The suit is a one piece, form fitted outfit with pockets at the thighs, waist, bum, sleeves and forearm.

Boots and gloves are separate and are also graphene aerogel protected. The boots are capable of protecting the soldier from AP mines.

The helmet seals to the skin suit and an armoured collar protects the neck.

Later version introduced a light, medium, and heavy format.

• Light uses the standard suit above.
• Medium introduces additional hard plate armour to the chest, groin, and head.
• Heavy has additional laminate hard plate armour over the entire body. Heavy but it can stop anything handheld and some.

Utility Layer

"The load carrying equipment is a fantastic bit of kit. Although you can put things where you like SOPs like some things in certain places." 

Due to the lightweight and form hugging design of the Lancer hard suit the standard utility load carrying vest can be worn. The stealth capable system is invariably worn keeping the hard suit's camouflage system working effectively.

Sustainability

"I need to eat, but the shit they give us is like baby food - tasty!"

A soldier needs to eat, drink, sleep, defecate and urinate. The skin suit takes care of the two later issues. Storing and recycling for later use. Eating and drinking is via two straws within the helmet. These are topped up from an external storage compartment and fed through ration packs. As for sleeping observation shows that a soldier can sleep just about anywhere!

The Individual

"The Lancer is great. Much better than the heavier segomo. Especially when you may be in the suit for weeks. You can even connect to the net to while away the hours."

The UK realised that with all of its advanced technology it still needed someone on the ground to 'hold the flag'. The infantry are the mainstay of the UK's military. serving on land, sea, air, and space on Earth and other extra-solar planets. The lancer enables a soldier to survive in all of these environments with very little modification.

Waste disposal and sustenance are all capable with out removing the suit. A self cleaning facility keeps the interior and exterior clean and efficient. 

Medical issues are a problem. With a suit designed to withstand impacts from fragmentation it is virtually impossible to remove in an emergency. The breach sealing system blocks any holes quickly. The environment may make removing the suit impossible anyway. Nano injectors can be used to help heal and restore a soldier to operational efficiency or to put them in to a hibernation state for removal to base and to promote self healing.

Energetics

"The strange thing is. If you are running low on energy you just have to move around."

The entire hard suit is laced with piezoelectric and pyroelectric nanogenerators. These nanogenerators are used to charge opal pack wafers embedded through the armour. Wireless energy harvesting is capable of charging the opal packs from ambient EM emissions and purpose built charging units.

Options

"The great advantage of the Lancer hard suit is its size. You can put nearly any of the bits of kit that you would usually wear right on over the top of it."

There are a few specialist options for the Lancer;

• Portable Life Support System increases the duration of the Lancer when used in space. A larger rebreather and oxygen system is carried on the back.
• Paratrooper wing suit.
• Sniper Ghillie suit providing greater camouflage abilities.