When Norman Osborn decided to create a new team of Avengers he felt the team needed a heroic image so he decided to create this battle suit. He used the armor until the fall of his regime at the close of Siege.

Secret Avengers

After H.A.M.M.E.R. was disbanded, much of their equipment and technology was confiscated by the United States Department of Defense. Whilst some of the material was sent to S.H.I.E.L.D., the military decided to retain possession of the Iron Patriot armor. Rather than have a pilot, their engineers added adjustments of the equipment by installing a base level artificial intelligence thus making the suit autonomous. It was intended that entire fleets of such armors would be deployed as drones for use in battlefield engagements around the world. The prototype was on display at a defense exposition when it got attacked by A.I.M. who stole the armor for their own needs. A.I.M. later upgraded the artificial intelligence and made it sentient where it spread to the entire fleet of Iron Patriot Armors located in their factory. The armors believed Tony Stark to be their maker and James Rhodes to be the 'pilot' where they held a great reverence for the two. However, they felt that they had become empowered to aid their 'makers' by protecting them from threats around the planet. This led to them attacking high risk targets designated by the United States but the aggressive nature of their attacks made them a threat. As a result, S.H.I.E.L.D. made their move to counter the Iron Patriots by deploying the Hulk against one force. At the same time, they recruited James Rhodes to 'speak' to the AIs where they showed that they greatly admired him as the 'pilot'. This led to one of the armors encompassing Rhodes when he told the Iron Patriots that their actions were not efficient and he began leading them in an attempt to curtail their aggressive actions.

Rhodes remained in the Iron Patriot identity until the events of "Time Runs Out", where he was shown to have returned to using the War Machine name at some point during the time skip. He retained his collection of drones, however.

Other Versions

Ultimate Iron Patriot

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Iron Patriot was Tony Stark, who decided to adopt a more publicity- friendly persona after the events of Divided We Fall and United We Stand. Stark used the Iron Patriot armor until it was destroyed by Black Knight, at which point he returned to his previous Iron Man persona.

In Other Media

Film

Iron Man 3

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Iron Patriot armor appears in Iron Man 3, used by James Rhodes (Don Cheadle). In the movie, the Iron Patriot is a repainted and rebranded version of the War Machine, that was created in response to the events of The Avengers and the looming threat of the Mandarin.

The armor is later hijacked by Eric Savin, who kidnaps Rhodes and uses the Iron Patriot suit to abduct the president of the united states. After a massive battle, Rhodes is able to rescue the president and reclaim his armor.

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Iron Patriot armor has been repainted into the War Machine Mark II armor.

Avengers: Endgame

During the climax of Avengers: Endgame, Rhodes dons a new, heavily upgraded version of the Iron Patriot armor during the final battle against Thanos and his army of aliens.

Television

Ultimate Spider-Man

The Iron Patriot armor and identity first appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Second Chance Hero", used by Norman Osborn (Steven Weber). The armor resembles the movie version of the suit worn by James Rhodes in Iron Man 3. Unlike the comic version, the cartoon version of Iron Patriot is a legitimate superhero.

In the show, Norman devises the Iron Patriot armor was a way to makeup for his misdeeds during his time as the Green Goblin. Deliberately choosing a name and identity that evokes the image of the the popular Avengers Iron Man and Captain America, he sets out to become a superhero. Spider-Man is initially skeptical of Norman's motivations, but helps him take down the Frightful Four. Spider-Man later acknowledges that Norman's desire to better himself is sincere after witnessing him battling his former partner, Doctor Octopus.

Osborn remains as the Iron Patriot until the episode "Return of the Sinister Six", in which he is transformed back into the Green Goblin against his will. In Season 4, Osborn returns to using the Iron Patriot armor after being cured of his Goblin condition.

Video Games

Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3

The original Iron Patriot suit appears in Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 as an alternate costume for Tony Stark.

Disney Infinity

The James Rhodes version of Iron Patriot appears as a sidekick character.

Contest of Champions

The Norman Osborn version of Iron Patriot is one of the playable fighters in the game.

Marvel Heroes 2015

The Iron Patriot armor is available as an alternate costume for War Machine.

Merchandise

• Hasbro released a number of Iron Patriot figures to celebrate Iron Man 3.
• Hasbro's Marvel Legends line featured two separate Iron Patriot figures as part of the Iron Monger Build-a-Figure line. One was based on the Norman Osborn version from the comics, while the other was based on the James Rhodes version from the movie. Finally, a version of James Rhodes' upgraded Iron Patriot armor from Avengers: Endgame was later released as part of the Thor Build-a-Figure wave.
• Hot Toys produced an Iron Patriot figure of James Rhodes for the Iron Man 3 line. They also produced an Iron Patriot bust.
• Bandai Tamashii produced an Iron Patriot figure for their SH Figuarts line.
• Kotobukiya released an Iron Patriot statue featuring James Rhodes from Iron Man 3.
  
• Sentinel released an Iron Patriot figure for their RE:Edit line.