New 'Halo'-esque look for Korea's troops

CNET ^ | 18 Nov 2008 | Mark Rutherford

[BGHater]

Things may be getting a little more stylish up on the DMZ (the Korean Demilitarized Zone) when Republic of Korea troops don their new high-tech battle uniforms. Accessories could include bulletproof helmets and a new assault rifle.

The Agency for Defense Development will begin the two-phase development on a new combat uniform beginning next year, according to The Korea Times.

"The agency has completed studies on the concept of the future combatant uniform and equipment,'" an unnamed official told the newspaper. "From next year, we plan to begin developing related technology and equipment after getting approval from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration."

The new new battle uniforms would provide protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks, and would feature automatic temperature control. A new protective vest is also planned. In addition to keeping the lead out, the helmet will be prewired for minicam video transmission, GPS navigation, and assorted networking gear, the official said.

The rifle has already been tested and could come online sooner than the rest of the outfit. The double-barreled K-11 assault rifle lets the shooter fire either NATO 5.56- or 20-millimeter grenades, all off the same trigger. Day and night aiming is accomplished with a thermal target seeker and laser that calculates distance automatically--a true point-and-shoot.

[BGHater]

Link has a video clip.

[BGHater]

Korea ping.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I heard some complaints that new S. Korean rifles are gizmo-heavy and have less power and durability. Hope that they do not create some kind of plastic toys which looks good but won’t deliver needed firepower.

[DiogenesLaertius]

They will need the precision weaponry to target north korean troops who are almost midget-sized given the mass-malnutrition in that banana republic.

[Jet Jaguar]

Assimilated!!!

[Tainan]

I'm thinking that this eletro-battle suit was not designed with very much input from the troopie in the field.

Waterproof?

Maybe designed for 'export-only' sales?

[Thunder90]

It looks like the Pentagon’s “Land Warrior” program.

[Hyzenthlay]

Whoa, they weren’t kidding with the Halo comparison - except for the scantily clad AI entity, they’ve got just about everything your standard Halo player has. Actually, unless you set up special scenarios in the game, the real-life soldiers are just about better equipped than your standard Halo character.

[GQuagmire]

[TigerLikesRooster]

I think they are building on Pentagon's idea. As it happens often with geeks, I suspect they are on fancy gizmo binge at the moment. Hopefully, rigorous testing and deployment phase would wean it out.

This diagram could be mockup for publicity stunt. Maybe helpful to recruit career soldiers.:-)

[Hodar]

No, not quite a storm trooper look.

I wonder if Microsoft is going to sue them for copyright infringement?

[gridlock]

[gridlock]

HALO KITTY.

[Incorrigible]

Perhaps Korea has initiated a Sparton Project.

Looks like the EVA Armor option:

.

[magslinger]

He’s a soldier? What drops did he make? Was he on Klendathu?

[B-Chan]

I was there, and I say we got whipped.

“To the everlasting glory of the infantry
Shines the name, shines the name...”

[SevenofNine]

OH JJ you not going blame this on me HONEY LOLOLOL!

[Slings and Arrows]

Master Chief vs. Chia Head - I like it!

[magslinger]

Expensive real estate.