List of equipment of the British Army

Name	Origin	Type	Cartridge	Image	Details
L85A2, L85A3, L22A2	United Kingdom (Overall design)  Germany (A2 and A3 upgrades)	Assault rifle (L85A2/A3) Carbine (L22A2)	5.56×45mm		Standard issue assault rifle, known as the 'SA80', with an effective range of 300 to 600 m (980 to 1,970 ft). Primarily fitted with either SUSAT, ACOG, Elcan SpecterOS 4X or Thermal Viper 2 sights. The Laser Light Module Mk3 and the L123 Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) can also be attached.[7][27] A shortened carbine variant, the L22A2, is used primarily by vehicle and helicopter crews for self-defence and by dog handlers.[28] On 11 April 2016,[29] the MoD announced the L85A3 upgrade programme to extend the life of existing weapons to 2025 and beyond, with changes including upper receiver modifications, a new model of railed handguard to provide a full-length rail system, and a Flat Dark Earth coating for improved camouflage. An initial quantity of 5,000 rifles was upgraded to the new L85A3 standard, with further tranches being upgraded on an ongoing basis.[30]
L119A1, L119A2	Canada	Carbine (Officially designated and treated as a rifle)	5.56×45mm		The C8 Carbine is used by; the Special Air Service,[31]16 Air Assault Brigade's Pathfinder Platoon,[32] 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment and other Army components of the Special Forces Support Group,[33] the Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit,[34] and the Ranger Regiment.[35] The L119A1 is also used by the Army component of 3 Commando Brigade after the Royal Marines began to use it as a replacement for their L85A3s.[36][37] An A2 variant was developed for United Kingdom Special Forces use,[21][38] while other units continue to employ the A1 version. [39]
L129A1, L129A2	United States	Sharpshooter rifle	7.62×51mm		The Sharpshooter is the primary designated marksman rifle, equipped with an ACOG optical sight for long-range engagements. There is also a Sniper Support Weapon version fitted with a 12x Schmidt & Bender scope and a suppressor for use by the second man in each sniper team.[40][41]
L403A1	United States	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm		Chosen to serve as the Alternative Individual Weapon of the Ranger Regiment and other Army Special Operations Brigade components, the L403A1 is the Knight's Stoner 1 variant of the Knight's Armament Company SR-16 fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system to mask the weapon from detection and a magnified optic. The rifle's barrel is dimpled, cold hammer-forged, and free-floating, while the handguard covers almost the entire barrel length to provide additional protection (to the barrel from damage, and to the firer from the barrel when it gets hot) and to allow attachment of ancillary equipment without compromising the firer's grip on the rifle. An initial order of 1,620 systems has been placed, with an option to procure up to 10,000 systems over the next decade.[42][43]

United Kingdom Special Forces have been known to operate a wide variety of weapons such as the M4 carbine UCIW, M16 rifle, HK G3, HK33/53, HK G36C, HK417, Sig Sauer MCX, but their primary rifle is the C8 carbine.

All soldiers are now equipped with the new Virtus helmet[117] (Revision Batlskin Cobra Plus[118]) which provides increased blunt impact protection, has a lighter weight than the preceding Mk7, can be fitted with face and mandible guards for certain roles, is specially shaped to allow effective weapon usage while in a prone position and wearing body armour, and features a permanent universal night vision mount and a scalable counterweight attached to the helmet's rear in order to ease strain on the user's neck while a night vision device is equipped. The helmet allows the soldier to wear a respirator, hearing protection, goggles and/or a radio headset as necessary.[119][120]

The previous standard helmet in service was the Mk7 which replaced the older Mk6 and Mk6A helmets on operations.

84,000 Mk 7 helmets were donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022.[121]

The British Army uses two main combat body armour systems;

Soldier in CRBN equipment wearing Virtus helmet and vest with the General Service Respirator

The Virtus Scalable Tactical Vest (STV) is the primary body armour system used on live operations, LFTT, and firing ranges and has replaced the previously used Osprey body armour. It is 10lbs lighter than Osprey and closer-fitting and can have its level of protection more closely scaled to the prevailing threat type. The vest also features a quick-release mechanism to aid safe extraction from hazardous situations such as burning vehicles or drowning and a dynamic weight distribution system which, when linked to a soldier's waist belt, aids in spreading the soldier's load across the back, shoulders, and hips; a mechanism in the small of the back allows the wearer to adjust the weight bias depending on the situation. The STV can be used in a variety of ways including; load carriage without armour, a fragmentation vest with soft composite armour but no hard plates, a plate carrier with no soft armour, and a full body armour system with both soft armour padding and hard plates.[117][120]

Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA)[122][123][124] is a soft body armour vest that was first introduced in the 1980s and can be augmented with ceramic ballistic plates. It was used on operations until the introduction of the Osprey body armour series in 2006 and is now used solely for training purposes, primarily for non-infantry phase one training recruits.

Ancillary to regular body armour is a three-tier pelvic armour system - issued since 2010 - to mitigate against shrapnel and other blast effects. The first layer is a pair of underwear shorts manufactured from a ballistic silk material. The second layer consists of detachable pelvic body armour that is intended to be worn while 'outside the wire' to meet the greater threats faced by soldiers on patrol. The third layer consists of knee-length ballistic shorts worn over a soldier's combat trousers, offering coverage of the upper leg and wider abdominal region and designed for use by soldiers operating hand-held metal detectors to search for explosive devices or otherwise serving in a combat role where greater levels of protection are required.[125][126]

8,450 sets of Osprey body armour were donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022.[127]

By January 2015, over 300,000 General Service Respirators had been delivered to replace the older S10 respirator.[128]

Features which differentiate it from the S10 which it replaced are:

• Twin filter canisters can be changed more easily while in a CBRN environment
• Single visor give better visibility and reduces the claustrophobic effect
• Improved drinking system
• Ability to convert to EU standard canisters with a simple modification

These respirators are also used by the rest of the British Armed Forces.

The multi-terrain pattern (MTP) combat clothing is designed to blend with the range of environments such as woodland, jungle, compounds, crops, grassland and arid stone. This change to the British camouflage pattern was the first in 40 years. The uniform is flame-retardant and insect-repellent treated.[129]

Troops on operations are issued with bacteria-zapping socks - which are completely waterproof. The knee length socks help to keep troops' feet dry when they are wading through ditches and streams. To keep feet hygienic, they have antimicrobial properties similar to those found in medical dressings. They are also superior to conventional socks, keeping feet warmer during the winter months.

Soldier modelling the currently issued brown boots.

In 2012, the MOD purchased a newly designed range of brown combat boots from Haix,[130] Alt-Berg,[131] and other manufacturers for the Army, Royal Marines and RAF to replace the black and Desert Combat Boot previously worn. Five different types of boots, developed to match the Multi-Terrain Pattern uniform, are available to Armed Forces personnel depending on where they are based and what role they are in. Black boots have been retained for wear with most non-camouflage uniforms as well as units on parade in full dress uniform, such as regiments performing ceremonial duties in central London.[132][133]

• Desert Combat – worn by dismounted troops conducting medium to high levels of activity in desert type environments with temperatures exceeding 40 °C
• Desert Patrol – worn by drivers/armoured troops conducting lower levels of activity in desert type environments exceeding 40 °C
• Temperate Combat – worn by dismounted troops for medium to high levels of activity in temperate (European) climates
• Patrol – worn by mounted troops (drivers/armoured troops) taking part in lower levels of activity in temperate (European) climates
• Cold Wet Weather – worn by dismounted troops for medium to high levels of activity in temperatures down to −20 °C.

The Italian manufacturer AKU now supply their Pilgrim GTX model as an option for a high liability boot alongside Altberg. The Pilgrim GTX Combat Boots are a true multi-purpose highly breathable boot with outstanding support, stability and impact absorption. Thanks to these features, Pilgrim GTX Combat offers great stability for demanding and dynamic conditions. [134]

A Personal Role Radio (PRR) is distributed to every member of an eight-strong infantry section.[17]

It consists of a headset attached to a UHF transmitter/receiver which has 256 channels, a 500m range, 20 hour battery life, weighs 1.5kg, and is effective through thick cover and walls and floors of buildings, increasing the communication and effectiveness of infantry fireteams.[18]

Soldier with Personal Load Carrying Equipment during a 2021 exercise.

3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment soldiers during 2020's Askari Storm exercise; While both soldiers wear Virtus vests, one also wears commercial PLCE-based webbing while the other wears MOLLE pouches configured into belt webbing.

The Virtus webbing system is the current primary load carrying belt system used by the British Army. It consists of a yoke, MOLLE hip belt and dynamic weight distribution (DWD) system, which provides real weight transference, allowing the soldier, while on the move, to shift the weight of the load between 100% on the shoulders to 100% on the hips and anything in-between. The soldier can choose between a variety of pouches to attach to the belt depending on the mission, including grenade, ammo, PRR, UGL, pistol magazine, medical, bayonet scabbard, water bottle, utility, commander's pouch and more.[135][136][137]

Usage of privately purchased webbing, whether based on or customised PLCE or with MOLLE compatibility, also remains a very common item. 'Airborne' webbing, which is a single unit webbing set of multiple pouches sewn or stitched directly onto a foam hip pad[138] is favoured among soldiers for its comfort, stability and durability.[139][140][141]

Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE), officially known as 95 Pattern Webbing, is an older webbing system issued temporarily solely for training purposes during phase 1 'basic' training for non-infantry recruits, to carry ammunition, food and water, protective equipment, and other individual supplies. The webbing consists of a belt, a yoke harness, and various belt pouches. The system also consists of two daysacks (backpacks) for use with the Combat Order; these can be attached to a larger 'Bergen' rucksack for use with the Marching Order.[142] The Osprey body armour and webbing series,[119] the later Virtus scalable tactical vest and webbing,[143] and various items associated with either system such as daysacks all feature MOLLE loops for direct attachment of load carrying pouches, thus obviating the need for and mostly supplanting the earlier PLCE webbing.[120]

PLCE sets have previously been manufactured in the newer MTP camouflage pattern, and both this webbing and earlier DPM webbing (due to the quantity of webbing produced and the durability of its construction and materials, and soldiers personal preference) continues to see occasional usage, particularly during training situations which often see soldiers either wearing the non-MOLLE Enhanced Combat Body Armour vest or wearing no armour at all.[144][145]

Regardless of the particular load carrying system used by any given soldier, Army doctrine prescribes that it should be capable of holding everything that a soldier needs to operate in the field for up to 24 hours without resupply in Fighting Order, for up to 48 hours without resupply in Patrol Order and for up to two weeks without resupply in Marching Order..[146]

A truck operated by the Royal Engineers is pictured delivering materials for the construction of a new road in Helmand, Afghanistan called Route Trident.

The job of the Royal Engineers is to restrict the enemy's ability to advance, while also allowing friendly combat forces the freedom to maneuver as necessary. Other tasks undertaken are bomb disposal, construction of fortifications, runways, roads and bridges and the improvement of existing infrastructure to support operations – such as improving existing roads for logistic convoys. To achieve this, they operate a large and diverse fleet of vehicles. [233]

In August 2020, AmeyBriggs (new joint venture between Amey plc and Briggs Defence)[234] was awarded a seven year, £240m contract to maintain, manage and support the British Army's fleet of earth-moving, engineer construction and mechanical handling capabilities.[235] The C-vehicle Capability, Defence Mechanical Handling Equipment (DMHE), and Protected Engineering Equipment contracts now form part of the new consolidated MITER contract. [236]

A soldier of 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment keeps watch while a digger is working on the construction of the next phase of Route Trident in Helmand, Afghanistan.

AmeyBriggs now provides the British Army with a wide range of earthmoving, construction and materials handling/lifting equipment to support their worldwide training and operational requirements. [237]

In recent years the equipment, which includes excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, concrete mixers, tractors, lighting towers, forklift trucks and cranes,[238] has been used to help with recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Dorian in the Caribbean, during major flooding incidents in the UK and supporting the military response to COVID-19 by loading and off-loading vital medical supplies.[239]

A Supacat ATMP, kitted out for operations in Afghanistan.

There are a number of all-terrain vehicles in service with the British Army.

The Supacat ATMP is a lightweight 6×6 used by 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team.[240] It can carry up to 8 troops with a standard NATO pallet of stores and ammunition.

Approximately 900 Grizzly 450 quad bikes are used as light transport for food, water and ammunition to the front line in difficult to access areas or where larger vehicles are not suitable, effectively moving alongside dismounted troops. They also have the ability to evacuate two casualties at a time, thereby speeding up emergency aid.[241]

A Grizzly 450 quad bike in Afghanistan.

UKSF maintain a unique fleet of vehicles to support their operations.

In 2001, 65 Supacat High Mobility Transporter (HMT) 400 vehicles were ordered under Project Minacity after being in development since the late 1990s.[242] The Minacity vehicles entered service in 2003 in Afghanistan.[243] In 2007, the Ministry of Defence ordered the HMT 400 for regular forces known as the Jackal.[242][244]

In 2008, 24 Australian Bushmaster armoured vehicles were purchased for the UKSF for operations in Iraq.[245][246][247] The Bushmasters were fitted with additional armour, counter-IED electronics, and a .50 calibre machine gun mounted in a RWS.[246]

In August 2016, BBC News reported that the Toyota Land Cruiser-based Jankel Al-Thalab long range patrol vehicle was being used in Syria.[248]

The Rigid Raider is used by the Royal Engineers and is sometimes used in rivers and during amphibious operations, while the Inflatable Raiding Craft, being small and flexible, is also utilised by the Army at times, as a raiding craft to get soldiers quickly across water in small groups, and in other tasks such as flood relief. [253]

SAS Boat Troops also utilise these raiding craft, Boat Troop's role covers many aspects of amphibious warfare, although the emphasis is on amphibious insertion/extraction, and demolitions, including attacking ships in harbours with magnetic limpet mines.[254]

An Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC)

Four boats in service, [255] operated by 17 Port and Maritime Regiment and 165 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps as small tugs and general purpose work-boats in support of amphibious operations. They have a displacement of 48 tonnes and a maximum speed of 10 knots. The Army Workboat can be used as tugs for Mexeflote’s, positioning other pontoon equipment and for handling flexible pipelines. [256] It is also used for assisting with firefighting and the provision of fuel (i.e. fuel being delivered across water.). [253]

Mexeflote

Mexeflotes are amphibious landing craft operated by 17 Port and Maritime Regiment and 165 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps for amphibious operations and are designed to deliver both armoured vehicles and material from ship to shore. They are usually deployed on the 16,160 tonne Bay-class landing ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Mexeflote is a powered raft (two diesel engines), used to move goods and vehicles between ship and shore when a pier is not available. [253]

Both the Royal Engineers and 17 Port and Maritime Regiment and 165 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps also make use of the Combat Support Boat since it is capable of being used to support bridging and amphibious operations as well as inland water patrolling and ship-to-shore resupply (it can carry 2 tonnes of cargo or 12 personnel) and diving operations. It is also relatively quick, with a top speed of 30 knots. [257]