Slatted, bendable plastoid plates were incorporated into the waist portion of the armor, the chest plate was reinforced and re-shaped, gear pouches were added as standard equipment, shoulder plates were reshaped to interfere less with weapons' movement and combat maneuvers and the knee armor was integrated into the calf armor to improve range of motion. Phase III Armor incorporates multiple improvements over the previous two phases, taking visibility, survivability and ease of movement into account. Through Palpatine's notes it was found that corners were cut in the production of armor plating as he viewed clone troopers to be expendable 'wet droids' and nothing more than mere tools with which to lay the foundation for his 'New Order.'
Following the removal of Palpatine from office shortly following the Battle of Coruscant and the discovery of hidden notes among his personal files, GAR Command, the Jedi, and the Senate quickly moved to replace the existing Phase II Clone Trooper Armor with a newer Phase III.