'Combat Codpiece' To Protect British Troops
Defensive weapon
Kat Higgins, Sky News Online
British troops fighting in Afghanistan are being issued with new anti-blast underwear to protect them from roadside bombs.
The detachable armour provides troops with a protective pouch
The kit has been nicknamed the "combat codpiece" by soldiers and 45,000 have already been delivered to those on operations, with 15,000 waiting to be issued.
The three-tiered system of clothing and armour consists of special protective underwear and detachable armoured modular trousers.
Troops can wear one or more layers depending on the task they are involved in.
The first layer is a type of short that has been made from scientifically-tested ballistic material that provides initial protection from blasts and the effects of shrapnel.
But it is tier 2 that has been dubbed the "combat codpiece" - this is a type of detachable armour that is pulled through the legs to form a protective pouch.
When not being used it can be rolled up and clipped to a belt on the trousers.
Troops on operations already have world-renowned body armour but we continually seek to improve the personal protection available to them.
Personal Combat Equipment Team Leader, Colonel Peter Rafferty
The armour has already been successfully trialled by the
Ministry of Defence and has been proven not to impede troops' mobility.
It will be issued to all troops operating outside the wire from Spring 2011 after a £4m contract for 25,000 was signed with a company in Northern Ireland.
The need for this type of protection for
British troops comes from an increased risk from roadside bombs which are triggered by pressure from a soldier or vehicle.
If a soldier has stepped on the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) then most of the force of the blast is likely to blow upwards, towards the pelvic area and key arteries.
The 'combat codpiece' may become widely used by troops
A third tier is being developed for troops required to carry out even more demanding roles such as searching for IEDs manually with handheld metal detectors.
Design trials will take place next year and protection will be extended to the upper leg and abdominal area.
Personal Combat Equipment Team Leader, at Defence Equipment and Support, Colonel Peter Rafferty, said: "Our troops in Afghanistan face specific threats and by working together, the MOD and industry, have created a layered system of clothing and body armour that offers troops fighting on the frontline the best balance between protection, mobility and comfort.
"Troops on operations already have world-renowned body armour but we continually seek to improve the personal protection available to them."
A total of 346 British forces personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001.
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