(Credit: Alex Nikitenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
The physical strain of combat is hard to quantify, but any help is appreciated. A number of frontline units in Ukraine have been trialing a "Gyurza-1" passive exoskeleton design to help reduce strain during demanding physical activity, United24 reports.
Ukraine has shown time and again during its fightback against Russian invasion forces that necessity is the mother of invention. Cheap drones combatting Iranian Shahed drones in both occupied Ukrainian territory and the Middle East are one clear example, but low-cost, passive exoskeletons may be another.
The Ukrainian military is a wartime army, meaning its forces aren't composed solely of young, healthy volunteers. It also has older, less fit individuals performing important roles in logistics and frontline operations. Exoskeletons can help make them far more capable at these tasks.
The exoskeleton doesn't require power, complex batteries, or servos; it's a sturdy frame that allows the attachment of various equipment and supplies for easier carrying. This gives the developers and field users an advantage as the exoskeleton does not require recharging, as well as having reduced mechanical complexity for easier use, and making it less likely the device can cause an injury requiring medical aid.
The design is still considered in the prototype phase, but early tests have proved positive, with feedback now leading to design refinement ahead of mass production.
"Our soldiers carry out logistical and combat tasks, many of which involve lifting and transporting various loads. This requires, at a minimum, strong physical conditioning. However, due to health and age, a significant number of our personnel do not meet the extreme demands of war. Exoskeletons help them withstand enormous strain," project lead Nazar Yasinskyi told United24.
Defense Express reported in late March that Ukraine was also testing a powered version of this exoskeleton which has a range of 20km and can reduce the carrying load of troops by up to 30%. This has seen particular use in artillery units, where ammunition loaders are often required to carry shells that can weigh upwards of 120 pounds each. With each loader carrying upwards of 30 of these shells a day, the physical strain can be very real and quickly lead to deteriorating performance.