Recon armor

Recon armor is a piece of armor in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
 The T-45 power armor model is designed for a single operator and is patterned closely after the human silhouette. It consists of three layers. The first is a black body suit worn by the operator for comfort, insulation, and protection from injuries that may be sustained during the armor's operation. The second layer of the armor is part of the power armor proper. These two are commonly referred to as recon armor when worn together. They form a full body suit made of thick, processed fabric with integrated metal plating that serves as a platform for attaching the armor and on-board hardware. The recon armor is, in effect, the underlying chassis of the T-45 power armor model. Its attachment points and power cell plug at the nape of the neck are essential for the operation of the full T-45 power armor, as the third layer consists of the armor, the fusion power cell, as well as the hydraulics and servomotors that allow the operator to carry heavy ordnance into combat and bear the weight of the armor.

This armor was replaced by the universal power armor frame and matching jumpsuit. However, due to the ongoing War, it was never completely decommissioned; instead, it was repurposed as a recon variant of the standard T-45 power armor, without the external armor plating, with increased mobility. 

T-45d under-armor


The basic suit of recon armor.

T-45 Outcast recon armor


A modified variant of the standard recon armor, painted in Outcast livery.

T-45 recon armor mark II
A modified version of the armor, featuring enhanced hardware, was developed by Senior Scribe Bowditch of Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel. Its development has been hampered by the equipment shortage caused by the Schism.