It sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but Ukrainian soldiers are now testing combat exoskeletons built to boost strength and endurance in real battlefield conditions. According to materials released by the 7th Air Assault Corps, the systems are already being tested in the field and are aimed at supporting the most physically demanding tasks.
One of the main use cases is transporting artillery ammunition. It’s tough, repetitive work done daily under combat conditions. “Every day, artillerymen endure heavy physical loads. They carry 15 to 30 shells daily, each weighing 50 kg,” said Colonel Vitalii Serdiuk, the corps’ deputy commander.
The exoskeletons are designed to reduce physical strain and speed things up. By assisting the user’s movements, they can help deliver ammunition faster and improve overall artillery efficiency. Early estimates from the Ukrainian side suggest the systems can cut physical effort by around 30% and boost soldiers’ top movement speed to up to 20 km/h.
The design is also practical. The system can be folded down into a compact form for transport, then deployed to assist with movement and heavy lifting when needed – a key advantage in fast-changing battlefield conditions.
For now, testing is focused strictly on logistics. No additional use cases have been disclosed, especially those directly tied to frontline combat.
At this stage, there’s no information on how many units are being tested or when they might see wider deployment. The technology is still being evaluated under operational conditions.