Five years after the 2021 Atherton inquiry warned that ill‑fitting kit put women at greater risk, some servicewomen say problems persist with body armour and uniform sizing. The MoD introduced an updated Virtus vest in 2022 and has bought 2,000 curved plates for Ukrainian forces, but UK troops still report shortages and equipment designed around male torsos. Inspectors and experts warn ill‑fitting kit poses safety risks and call for a faster, consistent rollout of female‑specific solutions.
Five Years On, Female Troops Still Issued Ill‑Fitting Kit — Veterans and MPs Warn
The curved plates allow for breast shape and the firm behind the design claims they will better protect women when compared with the flat plate [BBC]
Five years after the 2021 Atherton inquiry warned that ill‑fitting kit put women in the armed forces at a "greater risk of harm", servicewomen say problems persist with body armour and uniform sizing. While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has introduced changes, veterans, experts and MPs report ongoing shortages of female‑specific sizes and protective equipment that is designed around male body shapes.
Background: The Atherton Inquiry And The 2022 Response
The Atherton report recommended that the MoD urgently roll out safer, better‑fitting kit for female service personnel by the end of 2022. In response, the MoD issued an updated body armour system in 2022 — the Virtus Scalable Tactical Vest — which added adjustable straps and smaller, flat plates. The MoD said this improved "fit, comfort and mobility while maintaining consistent ballistic protection standards."
Seren White was part of the team that designed the new curved plates [BBC]
Servicewomen's Experience
"I never felt that I was neat, tidy, presentable, or in the uniform that I was meant to be in,"
— Rhian Brown, veteran who left the Army Reserve in 2024.
Brown and other servicewomen told the BBC the vest felt like an improvement in some respects but still was not designed to accommodate breasts and female curves. Troops describe shortages of smaller sizes, occasional pressure to take ill‑fitting items, and a sense that fit is about safety as much as appearance.
Curved Plates For Ukraine — And Why They Matter
The MoD has funded 2,000 sets of curved ballistic plates for women in the Ukrainian armed forces through a contract with NP Aerospace in Coventry. Designers say the curved plates better follow breast shape and therefore improve protection compared with flat plates. NP Aerospace's team says their plates underwent extensive testing — far beyond the 36 industry certification shots — claiming their curved plates have been fired upon almost 300 times.
Erin Grieve says current body armour is designed around the male torso [BBC]
Engineers also say the myth that a curved surface would cause dangerous ricochets has been debunked. "Women today are wearing flat plates that have been designed for male torsos," says Erin Grieve of NP Aerospace. "We are trying to address that women are not small men — they're shaped differently."
However, the curved plates bought for Ukraine are not currently issued to UK servicewomen.
Military clothing sizes have traditionally not matched civilian size guides [BBC]
Inspections, Evidence And Expert Views
Ofsted reported in October 2025 that for the fourth consecutive year women and smaller recruits were being issued ill‑fitting kit and clothing at some MoD training establishments. Inspectors warned ill‑fitting equipment such as webbing or rucksacks can prevent full participation in training and that ill‑fitting kit "poses a very serious risk" in combat situations.
Dr Mary Keeling of the Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces says the rollout and availability of female‑specific equipment since Atherton has been "inconsistent". She welcomes some improvements but says progress has been too slow and that faster, consistent availability would likely help recruitment as the services seek to increase the proportion of women.
Political Pressure And MoD Timelines
Former Royal Marines officer and MP Fred Thomas says getting body armour that fits women should be "an absolute priority" amid heightened global instability. The MoD says new ballistic plates will be delivered in 2028 and "will be available in multiple sizes offering a better fit for all service personnel," but the BBC understands those plates will be flat.
The MoD adds it is developing the next generation of body armour through a Complex Geometry Body Armour Programme intended to enable procurement of curved plates; these could begin to be delivered from 2029. The MoD maintains it is committed to ensuring everyone has access to the "best equipment they need to protect themselves in combat."
Why It Matters
Veterans and experts stress this is primarily a safety issue, not a matter of appearance. Servicewomen say consistently available, correctly sized and shaped protective equipment would improve safety, boost confidence, and make it easier to recruit and retain women as the armed forces aim to increase female representation.
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