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Written question asked by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 March 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Friday, 6 March 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Army: Body Armour

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when will the British Army be provided with body armour designed to fit women.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence remains firmly committed to ensuring that our Service personnel are equipped with appropriate and sufficient protective equipment. As part of this commitment, we are delivering an update to body armour for UK personnel through the Tactical Ballistic Plates (TBP) project.

Anthropometric data was used in the design of TBP. Plates will be available in four sizes, to better fit a broader range of personnel, including women.

A comprehensive range of options will be assessed ahead of the TBP contract award, which is currently scheduled for December 2026. This evaluation will ensure that the new armour achieves the optimal balance between fit and the protection required for all our personnel. In-service dates will be confirmed once the contract has been awarded and the delivery schedule is finalised.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
116128
Session
2024-26
Registered interest declared
Yes
Subjects
Army Women Body armour
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk