Stealth Battlesuit

Tau Portal

The Stealth Battlesuit is an advanced Tau Battlesuit used for operating well ahead of the main Tau army, often behind enemy lines. They are worn by Stealthsuit Teams, and come in a variety of models.

XV15 Stealth Battlesuit

The XV15 is amongst the smallest Battlesuit ever used by the Tau - indeed the XV15 is hardly larger than a Fire Warrior in his typical armour - but that only enhances its role as infiltrator and saboteur.^[3] As with other battlesuits the XV15 incorporates multi-spectrum sensors and recoil absorption technology, but in addition it is also equipped with a jetpack and stealth field generator, a holographic disruption field making the suit harder to spot. The suit increases the user's strength, allowing them to hit harder in close combat and carry a burst cannon into battle.^[1]

XV15 Stealthsuit

XV22 Stealth Battlesuit

The XV22 is a new stealth battlesuit that is still in the field-testing stages.^[2a] It was first issued to Commander Shadowsun at the beginning of the Third Sphere Expansion, and is armed with two Fusion Blasters. In addition to its stealth field generator and jetpack, the XV22 comes equipped with a Multi-tracker, an advanced version of the Target Lock system, and a Drone Controller with a Command-link Drone and two MV52 Shield Drones. Shadowsun also carries with her a Bonding Knife.^[2b]

Since its first introduction, other Tau Commanders have been granted access to the XV22 suit, although these sometimes lack the stealth field generator common to Shadowsun's suit.^[4] The Earth Caste hoped to introduce the XV22 en masse to replace the XV15, however the Kappa Mortis Incident forced them to instead bring the easier-to-produce XV25 into full-scale production.^[6]

File:Stealth suit.jpg

An XV22 Stealthsuit

XV25 Stealth Battlesuit

The XV25 Stealthsuit is a much larger version than the XV15, remarked as being broader than a Space Marine.^[5] It first saw combat in the Kappa Mortis Incident and has since largely replaced the smaller XV15.^[6] Like the XV15, it is equipped with all the standard battlesuit systems, including a burst cannon, jetpack and stealth field generator. Thanks to their larger frame and augmented muscles, XV25s can replace their burst cannon for a fusion gun, and may also take an additional Battlesuit support system. The team leader may also be equipped with a markerlight.^[2a] However, the XV25 provides little protection against large-calibre small arms such as Astartes bolters.^[5]

XV25 Stealth Suit with Burst Cannon

XV95 Ghostkeel Stealth Battlesuit

The XV95 is the heaviest class of Tau stealth battlesuit, designed to infiltrate enemy lines and create confusion by unleashing a torrent of heavy weaponry before disappearing. It is considered the pinnacle of Tau stealth technology.^[7]

XV95 Ghostkeel

Sources

• 1: Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), pg. 16
• 2: Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)
  • 2a: pg. 35
  • 2b: pg. 46
• 3: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pg. 280
• 4: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
• 5: Courage and Honour (Novel) by Graham McNeill, ^{[Needs Citation]}, pg. 135
• 6: White Dwarf #321 (UK), pg. 76
• 7: White Dwarf 89 (2015) - XV95 Ghostkeel