British Army new helmets and body armour head to the front line

23 September 2009

Five thousand new helmets and sets of body armour, which will improve comfort for British personnel on operations, are about to be shipped out to Afghanistan for use by frontline troops this winter.

The brand new Mark 7 helmet along with new Osprey body armour will be available for use by troops of 11 Light Brigade who will take over as the lead formation of UK Forces in Helmand in October.

The new Osprey Assault body armour and Mark 7 helmet offer an improvement in the way that these items fit and feel.

The new helmet has the same protection as the current Mark 6A but will improve the effectiveness of the soldier with a new harness that keeps the helmet more stable on the head when night-vision equipment is fitted to it.

It is also better integrated with new weapon sights, making it easier to use weapons in a variety of fighting positions.

New Osprey Assault body armour has all the stopping power of the current Osprey armour but is closer fitting, less bulky and easier to move in.

More than 10,000 sets of the enhanced Mark 7 helmet and the Osprey Assault body armour have been ordered.

The first 5,000 sets will go to infantry soldiers, engineers, drivers, medics, dog handlers, and those who regularly go outside the wire.

Another 5,000 sets of helmets and armour are due to be sent to Afghanistan in Spring 2010.

http://www.army.mod.uk/news/17120.aspx