Defence Forces to procure fragmentation protective vests

The Defence Forces continue to improve the infantry soldier's personal ballistic protective gear by purchasing more of M05 fragmentation protective vests. Fragmentation protective vests give soldiers a comprehensive protection against mortar projectile fragments.

Together with the M17 protective vests, the Defence Forces troops will be equipped with necessary protective gear, as required by tasks. The new M05 fragmentation protective vests are compatible with both the new equipment pocket sets and the older equipment vests and combat belts.

The vests will be procured from Sioen Ballistics Oy. The overall value of the procurement without value added tax is about EUR 9 million, and the domestic employment impact is estimated at 40 person-years.

The procurement will be financed from the supplementary budget, which included additional funding for rapidly launched defence materiel procurements, and from the funds of the Defence Forces' development programme.

Inquiries: Colonel Juhani Skyttä, Inspector of Infantry, Army Command, tel. +358 299 800 (Defence Forces' switchboard).