105J3-975V 'Vikhr' Lightweight Power Armor

See Also- Armor Systems of the Colonial Pact.

The latest in a long line of lower cost 'hard suit' type power armor systems favored by the Colonial Pact Army and various other civil security services for its lower cost and ease of maintenance. It trades the more flexible synth muscle design of more advanced suits for a hard servo type system with an overlaying of inter-connected hard plate armor typically backed by a flexible sealed spall suit to protect the user against kinetic impacts and burning form energy weapons.

(Caption: The grey colored Vikhr on the left is of Pact construction while the blue colored one is of ONI production.)
Mostly consisting of smooth armor plate on the outside with a distinctive smooth top helmet with the tri-optical system characteristic of the Vikhr armor system, as stated before it is a hard plate armor style power armor with overlapping layers of light to moderate weight armor plate. The linkages being composed of flexible armored mesh. Notable features include the shoulder pauldrons, the neck and collar armor protecting the more vulnerable mesh near the armors neck, and the large modular backpack system on the power armor's back.

A 'plate armor' style power armor relying on hard mechanical servos, interlinked hard armor, and some measures to allow for flexible joint movement. It is brute, simple, and generally difficult to kill at the cost of some mobility and wearer comfort. However it has been found in the years since its production this trade off was more then worth the reduction in price, trading the complexity and cost of a synth muscle power armor for the lower cost tried and true. As a result as said above it has become a favorite in the power armor trade, very heavily used in applications where the lower grade exo-suits would be hazardous or outright to dangerous. The two largest users being the private and commercial sector followed closely by the general issue variants of the Colonial Army.

The Vikhr is a solid armor suit more akin to is own miniature vehicle then something a user will wear, as a result its primary method of entry is via the back. The entire section from the waist up to the back of the neck including the backpack unit hinges upward once a release switch is pressed. The user then climbs in starting with their legs before pressing their midsection, arms, and head into the suit at the same time. The suit needs to be fitted and adjusted to the user's dimensions in order for its use and entry to be comfortable, however in emergency situations this fitting can be done directly after entry if the user can fit (most factory Vikhrs are set to the maximum size allotments in order to facilitate this). Once inside a switch on the inside can be pressed by the user's right index finger which will drop the hatch and initiate the suit's primary functions.

The Vihkr's primary method of control and operations is via a direct neural interface with the pilot via a port with a semi-flexible cable both directly behind the neck inside the armor, or slightly on the side for users with a side mounted DNI port. This link will automatically extend and link with the pilot (if programmed that way) when the armor is initiated by the right hand switch. This sysmte allows the user a full cybernetic link with all of the suit's area awareness and communications systems allowing a much higher level of efficiency both in combat situations and civil operations due to the suit not limiting their senses. It also allows for instant adjustment of suit systems via cybernetics on the fly.

Less efficient then using a DNI system it is however still possible to operate the power armor via manual controls present on the platform listed and described below.

• Intelligent Heads Up Display
  • An eye tracking customizable input mode allowing the pilot to operate various suit functions via eye motion and voice commands via various displays on the inside of the suit's helmet HUD. The sensitivity and the responsiveness can be customized to the operator's needs and preferences
• Forearm Touch Screen or Holographic Projection Interface
  • Either a contact style touchscreen or an interactive holographic projector for either individual or group use, it allows the operator to tweak the suit's operations in a more precise way. It also allows for complex interface of various weapon systems that would otherwise be complicated by a user without a cybernetic direct neural interface implant.
• Brain Electro-Chemical Monitoring System
  • Somewhat complex and requiring extensive hour long training operations to build up, it basically allows the computer to predict what the pilot plans or wishes to do based on the suits internal sensors dedicated to monitoring the pilots brain. It effectively allows the operator to broadcast his or her thoughts and intentions and allows the suit to act on these intentions. However this interface can be rather difficult to use between having to build up a profile for the suit to analyze and for the proper line between thoughts and intentions needing to be established.

The following is a compliation of the various sub-systems mounted on the Vikhr Lightweight Power Armor.

Utilizing mainly multi-spectral optical systems paired with a PEMA-type electromagnetic passive array. The suit's computer system is capable of overlaying the various sensor feeds and providing the pilot with a variety of overlays. The computer will also automatically detect and highlight possible threat silhouettes and automatically warn the operator of them.

• 'Triclops' Triple Optic HOSTS System
  • A three optic sighting system that makes up the 'faceplate' of the power armor, each is a tri-optical sensor covering the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet spectrums. While only two are needed a third optical is employed as a backup in case one of the primary systems are knocked out. This feed is shown direct and as the primary 'view' for the pilot's HUD on the inside of the helmet.
• Side Mounted Helmet HOSTS w/ Laser Scanning and Designation Attachment
  • A dedicated helmet mounted targeting optic with multi-spectral capability, it is used to lock and track designated targets within the forward view of the PA. The cylindrical body of the unit also features an infrared laser designation for painting targets when the PA or a nearby friendly unit is employing ordinance that utilize laser tracking.
• Armor Mounted PEMA Type Array
  • A network of passive sensors mounted on the surface of the PA's armor, these are used to detect various EM wavelengths and are especially useful for tracking possible active sensor systems to being used to target the power armor and providing an early warning feature to the suit's pilot. They can also be used to track and target EM emissions for either engagement by the PA or by other systems utilizing the sensor data generated by the PA.

The Vikhr employs one primary power generation system in the form of a cartridge style CSFFC-type solid fuel fusion fuel cell located in the power armor's back pack operational unit. The size of a average carbonated drink can, its entire assembly is the size of a coffee thermos of average size and a skilled technician can swat spent units in as little as a minute, typically double this for unskilled personnel.

The second power system is a series of CCEC-type capacitors mounted conformally throughout the suit, primarily under the armor panels acting as additional protection due to their high density. These capacitor banks can support the suit for up to 72 hours without the fusion cell operating.

The Vikhr employs a mixture mechanical and propulsive systems for its mobility outside of the simple method of legged locomotion (IE walking/running), these are described and listed below.

• Back-Pack Mounted CMISFD Type Fusion Thrusters
  • The primary flight module of the Vikhr consisting of two thrust vectoring capable back pack mounted units with plasma bleeds feeding shoulder, leg, and foot mounted puffer duct systems to provide orientation control both in flight and in vacuum conditions. Additionally 'thrust' produced from this unit can be fed into mechanically and electromagnetically controlled boot mounted hover jets for fast surface travel.

• Mechanical 'Razor Skate' Wheel Systems
  • Present on the outside and inside of the 'heel' of the suit's boots are also a pair of 'razor skate' wheels which can be used for high speed movement in situations where the hover jets may not be applicable. An example would be the high density metal teeth of the 'skates' allowing suits to use them to fly up walls and buildings at high speed.

The Kortik can employ any of the launchers and small arms listed in the 'Small Arms' section of the Colonial Pact armaments page.

Below are listed the optional hard point attachment system points the Vikhr can employ, these are compatible with the Commonized Exo-Suit and Power Armor Attachments of the Colonial Pact used by the Colonial Pact.

• Back Flexi-Points
• Shoulder Hard Mounts
• Shoulder Hard Mounts
• Wrist Modular Mounts