Osprey body armour

Osprey body armour is a system of body armour used by the British Armed Forces. The system is in its fourth iteration following extensive development and engagement with front line users.

British armed forces have used Combat Body Armour, and then Enhanced Combat Body Armour during Operation Banner, combating terrorist activities in Northern Ireland. ECBA was issued to ground force elements during the early stages of Operation Telic, the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Following lessons identified in Iraq by both British and American forces the Osprey armour system was released in 2006 for general use. It has subsequently been developed and in late 2010 Version 4 has been issued to personnel serving in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick.

The body armour system is designed and manufactured by CQC Ltd, a long-standing UK based manufacturer for the Ministry of Defence. The Osprey system is modular and built around a vest which covers the torso. Protective elements to cover the upper arms and around the neck and throat can be added to the main vest. The vest has webbing tape, similar to the American Pouch Attachment Ladder System, stitched to the outside to act as a basis for a series of pouches and accessories, removing the need to wear a webbing harness or assault vest over the armour.

The vest consists of a front and rear soft armour panel, which join with the aid of hook & loop fasteners and press studs at the shoulders and waist sides. The panels contain a ceramic trauma plate both front and rear, protected by a rubber surround intended to avoid wear and tear in routine use. Version 4 of the armour introduces additional side panels designed to contain further trauma plates.

Clips on the vest are available for the fitting of a British type Camelbak or Bergen side pouch on the rear, and a respirator haversack on the bottom left.

The armour system is not currently issued to personnel in the UK, and instead retained in theatre, and issued to troops during inward processing. Training is undertaken using earlier versions of Osprey.

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