---
title: "The Military Is Investing Millions in Exoskeleton “Super-Soldiers”"
description: "Lockheed Martin is developing a strap-on exoskeleton suit, called ONYX, with the goal of creating \"super-soldiers\" for the U.S. military."
date: "2018-11-30"
modified: "2018-11-30"
authors:
  - name: "Jon Christian"
    job_title: "Executive Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc"
url: "https://futurism.com/exoskeleton-super-soldiers-military"
categories:
  - "Finance"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Investing"
  - "Military"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "b-temia"
  - "keith maxwell"
  - "lockheed martin"
  - "onyx"
---

# The Military Is Investing Millions in Exoskeleton “Super-Soldiers”

![Lockheed Martin is developing a strap-on exoskeleton suit, called ONYX, with the goal of creating exoskeleton "super-soldiers."](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/b-temia.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: B-TEMIA\</em\>*

## Mecha Warrior

If the U.S. Army has its way, the soldiers of the future will use powered exoskeletons to carry heavier loads on the battlefield without getting tired.

That's according to a [new story](<https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-exoskeleton/pentagon-looks-to-exoskeletons-to-build-super-soldiers-idUKKCN1NY2Y4>) in *Reuters* about the military's $6.9 million contract with Lockheed Martin to develop ONYX, an exoskeleton suit that straps on over the wearer's clothes — instantly turning them into a "super-soldier," if the tech pans out.

## Super Human

Lockheed is licensing ONYX from B-TEMIA, a Canadian company that [developed the technology](<https://www.pehub.com/canada/2015/05/b-temia-secures-funding-to-advance-human-augmentation-systems/#>) to help people with multiple sclerosis and osteoarthritis move around.

But the Pentagon realized the same tech could help its soldiers lug around all the armor, weapons**,** and special equipment they need in the field — a load that can total more than a hundred pounds per fighter.

"You get to the fight fresh," Keith Maxwell, Lockheed's exoskeleton technologies manager, said in an interview with *Reuters*. "You’re not worn out."

## Evangelion

The history of the military and industries are littered with [aspirational exoskeletons](<https://futurism.com/2018-will-be-big-on-special-forces-exoskeleton-tech>) that never amounted to much. The technology is challenging because it needs to be responsive, reliable**,** and, above all, safe.

But next-generation actuators, sensors**,** and artificial intelligence systems are heating up the exoskeleton race — *Reuters* reports that the Chinese and Russian militaries are investing in similar technology — so it might not be long before we see these "super-soldiers" on the battlefield.

**READ MORE: [Pentagon Looks to Exoskeletons to Build 'Super-Soldiers'](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-exoskeleton/pentagon-looks-to-exoskeletons-to-build-super-soldiers-idUSKCN1NY2Y4>)** \[*Reuters*\]

***More on exoskeletons: [Exoskeletons Are About to Walk Ford’s Factory Floors](<https://futurism.com/exoskeletons-ford-factory>)***

## Author
I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/jonchristian.net>)