M Fnord Wrote:The Soviet MARS marine units use hardsuits of similar design - and obviously the same inspiration - but the capabilities and production are very different. For one thing, the VVS suits aren't bespoke; most of the components are mass-produced and interchangeable (on the theory that since MARS units are intended to be combat units, replacement of damaged gear needs to be paramount). MARS hardsuits also aren't space-independent, they have limited maneuvering capability but can't travel distance like the Stingray design. Also, the armor plating in VVS hardsuits is Battle Inconel, a not quite as 'tankable' alloy[1]. They also remove some of the odder quirks from the source material - like high heels. (Because really?)
[1] Used in the hulls of VVS combat aerospacecraft, Battle Inconel is a nickel alloy that is light and can suck up heat and some forms of kinetic energy like woah. Not quite as tough as battlesteel, though; it wears pretty quickly.
I can, frankly, see most of the VVS stuff suffering from the need to be different, based on its chief engineer / designer and the existence of production capabilities.
The uparmoring of MARS was probably going to be a post OGJ thing though, due to necessities of production and development.
