Communist power armor

The model worn by ranking PRC operatives on American soil.

For Red Shift paint, see Red Shift theme.
For Red Scare paint, see Red Scare theme.

Communist power armor or people's power armor was an attempt made by the People's Republic of China in order to replicate the militarized power armor used by the United States Armed Forces.

Although mentioned as early as the Fallout Bible in 2002 and referenced in Fallout: New Vegas in 2011, it was only shown for the first time in Fallout 76 around April 2020, first as the Red Shift cosmetic skin, then as a red-tinted power armor worn by communist commissars in Daily Ops.

Background

Following the military debut of American power armor on the Alaskan battlefield in early 2067, the People's Republic of China began developing their own power armor, but remained years behind the United States. The United States military feared such a development and, in order to counter the People's Liberation Army's power armor in the event of its deployment, the U.S. preemptively invested in electromagnetic pulse weaponry as a countermeasure.

The Chinese, however, focused primarily on combating America through cunning and espionage. Rather than the brute strength of power armor, they made skilled use of covert technologies, such as stealth armor. Although some Chinese-made suits made their way into the hands of PRC commissars operating on American soil, other officers relied on captured American suits.

Behind the scenes

Red Shift promotional image

• The term "Chinese power armor" often used to refer to the armor is a term coined by the fanbase to differentiate it from power armor made by the United States. Although the Red Shift and Red Scare Atomic Shop power armor skins do not have an explicitly stated country of origin, the use of Chinese script, phrases, voices and flags leaves little room for doubt.
• The Communist power armor was designed by Chris Ortega. He preferred the version with the built-in hat, but the developers ultimately chose the one inspired by the Warmachine.
• According to Chris Ortega, his understanding of the lore from game design and art direction was that the Communist power armor was a repurposed and retrofitted U.S. design, used as propaganda for the party.
• The armor includes a slogan in Chinese, 美帝必败, which stands for "American imperialism must be beaten!".

Gallery

In-game

Front and back view

With lights on

Atomic Shop

Red Shift pattern

Red Scare pattern

Dark Star pattern

Jetpacks

Concept art

Chris Ortega concept art

Model 1

Model 1a

Model 2

Моdel 3

Моdel 4

Моdel 5

Jetpack

Interview DM with Chris Ortega about the design philosophy/lore of the Communist Power Armor

Further clarification from designer Chris Ortega that the info comes from Game Design and the art director

References

Non-game

Atomic Shop

Power armor Fallout T-51b power armor · Hardened power armor Fallout 2 T-51b power armor · Hardened power armor · Advanced power armor · Advanced power armor Mk II Fallout 3 T-45d power armor · Advanced power armor Mk II · Tesla armor · Prototype medic power armor · T-51b power armor · Winterized T-51b power armor · Ashur's / Tribal power armor · Enclave Hellfire armor Fallout Tactics Midwestern Brotherhood power armor · Midwestern Brotherhood advanced power armor Fallout: New Vegas T-45d power armor · Advanced power armor Mk I · Remnants Tesla armor · Brotherhood T-45d power armor · Brotherhood T-51b power armor · T-51b power armor · Scorched Sierra power armor · NCR salvaged power armor · Gannon family Tesla armor Fallout 4 Power armor frame · T-45 series power armor · T-51 series power armor · T-60 series power armor · X-01 series power armor · Raider modified power armor (Tessa's Fist) · Piezonucleic power armor · Tesla T-60 armor Fallout 76 Power armor chassis · T-45 series power armor · T-51 series power armor · T-60 series power armor · T-65 power armor  · X-01 series power armor · Excavator power armor · Ultracite power armor · Raider power armor · Communist power armor Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel Vault-Tec power armor · Vault-Tec advanced power armor Fallout Shelter T-45 series (T-45d, T-45f) · T-51 series (T-51a, T-51d, T-51f) · T-60 series (T-60a, T-60d, T-60f) Van Buren T-45d power armor (only in tutorial/tech demo) · T-51b power armor · ATHENA power armor