China's working on the next generation of military exoskeleton. Here's what it can do.

China's push to develop powered exoskeletons has implications for almost every area of combat operations. If the plans prove successful, Chinese infantry and special operators could not only carry heavier equipment for longer distances, but also attach body armor to individuals. None of which can fly like Iron Man. More prosaically, exoskeletons can be used to assist soldiers in a bunch of support tasks, including loading supplies, getting missiles onto airplanes, and repairing ships. Peter Warren Singer is a strategist and senior fellow at the New America Foundation.