Power armored infantry
Power armored infantry are infantry equipped with powered exoskeletons, generally armored and usually featuring movement assist functionality to aid the wearer in moving and lifting heavy loads. Depending on the country, power armored infantry can combine characteristics of mechanized, motorized, or air assault infantry, but can also operate as pure light foot infantry. However, the unifying feature is the operation of power armor.
In most militaries, power armored infantry are a relatively niche capability, but are fielded at scale. They're often used as an alternative to mechanized infantry in complex terrain due to their enhanced ability to navigated heavily wooded or built up areas. However, due to their weight and ground pressure issues, they are ideally employed in rocky terrian, dry ground, or paved environments. In some cases they are employed from helicopters due to their superior airmobility compared to an armored vehicle, although this generally requires heavier cargo helicopters to execute. Though due to their relatively slow tactical mobility if not mechanized or motorized in addition, power armored infantry rarely support tanks and other armored vehicles by design unless operating in urban or other close terrain.
United Kingdom
The British Army operates two types of power armored infantry units: Type A and Type B Powered Infantry Battalions. Type A battalions are essentially a form of mechanised infantry battalion, with each infantry section carried in a Boarhound PIC-W wheeled power armor-capable armored personnel carrier. Type B battalions are mostly footmobile power armor battalions, with only one PIC Platoon in their HQ Companies capable of lifting one of their organic companies. The 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles are an example of a Type B battalion.
Type B Powered Infantry Battalions are intended to support the Airmobile Brigade's two Light Role Infantry Battalions specialized in the air assault mission. They would provide protected fire support in situations where armored vehicles cannot be present, utilizing the ABPI's high level of protection against small arms and assisted lift capability to enable a high concentration of support weapons. Type A battalions on the otherhand essentially replace unpowered wheeled mechanised infantry in certain brigades. Originally the Ministry of Defence intended to replace all Wheeled Mechanised Infantry Battalions with Type A Powered Infantry Battalions, but had to walk this goal back over the years due to budgetary constraints and the high cost of the Armour Body Powered Infantry (ABPI) power armor system.
United States
In the United States Army, 1 Power Armored Infantry Battle Group the size of a large battalion is included in non-airborne/airmobile Light Divisions and 3 are included in Motorized Divisions. In the case of Light Divisions, the purposes of power armored infantry is to provide an organic armored capability to otherwise unprotected foot infantry units, produce shock effect, and haul heavy weapons in complex terrain. In Motorized Divisions, where power armored infantry fight alongside units equipped with wheeled armored personnel carriers, the intent is to enhance the divisions' fighting capability in urban terrain. As the Chinese cities these divisions are aligned to are abundant with paved surfaces that can support power armor and roads increase the risk of units getting fired upon while in enfilade, power armor units are doctrinally ideal for this type of environment. However, other than the airborne infantry, Power Armored Infantry Battle Groups are among the least common. There are an equal amount of Lunar Infantry Battle Groups in the U.S. Army, all contained within the 12th Infantry Division.
In the Regular Army, the following are the U.S. Army's power armored infantry battle groups:
- 1st Squadron, 12th Cavalry — 1st Cavalry Division (Motorized)
- 2nd Squadron, 12th Cavalry — 1st Cavalry Division (Motorized)
- 3rd Squadron, 12th Cavalry — 1st Cavalry Division (Motorized)
- 1st Battle Group, 19th Infantry — 24th Infantry Division (Light) (Amphibious)
- 1st Battle Group, 14th Infantry — 25th Infantry Division (Light) (Jungle)
- 1st Battle Group, 168th Infantry — 34th Infantry Division (Motorized)
- 2nd Battle Group, 168th Infantry — 34th Infantry Division (Motorized)
- 3rd Battle Group, 168th Infantry — 34th Infantry Division (Motorized)