Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines are testing new curved body armour designed specifically for women to improve protection against bullets, shrapnel, and drone strikes. According to Ukrainian MP Iryna Nykorak, the majority of the more than 10,000 women serving in combat roles have previously been issued standard men’s ballistic plates that are bulky, heavy, and fail to fit their chests properly.
The Front-Line Fit Crisis for Servicewomen
Servicewomen frequently face difficult choices regarding standard military equipment. Nykorak told CBC News that some female soldiers decide against wearing standard-issue plates entirely because the poor fit renders them useless. “Right now, women must adapt to the current system, not vice versa,” Nykorak stated, emphasizing the respect due to women who leave their homes, families, and children to join the army.
The issue extends beyond Ukraine’s borders. Many countries, including Canada, issue standard body armour shaped for men rather than women. Michael Sandercott of the NP Aerospace factory in Coventry, England, explained that female soldiers often size up men’s armour to accommodate breast tissue, which burdens them with unnecessary weight. Consequently, soldiers may discard vital items like ammunition, water, and rations to compensate.
Engineering Protection for Female Anatomy
Flat ballistic plates rest against a female soldier’s chest and angle outward, creating dangerous gaps near the neck and lower torso. Erin Grieve, a sales manager for NP Aerospace’s personal protection team, noted that “women are not just small men” and that gear must be engineered to protect vital organs including the heart, greater vessels, liver, and spleen. Ballistic testing and modelling by NP Aerospace show that curved plates fit tighter and provide 48 percent more protection than flat plates against elevation and drone threats.
International allies have begun responding to the equipment gap. In June, the U.K. donated 2,000 sets of body armour to Ukraine featuring curved female-specific ballistic plates manufactured by NP Aerospace and paired with vest carriers designed by Canadian company Logistik Unicorp. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence announced the purchase of its first 2,000 body armour vests specifically for women in combat roles, and Ukraine started distributing its first round of female body armour vests last month.
Did You Know? Over 75,000 women are currently serving in Ukraine’s military, with more than 10,000 deployed in combat roles on the front lines, according to data shared by Ukrainian MP Iryna Nykorak.
Operational Impact and Future Gear Procurement
For a National Guard officer serving under the call sign “Kudriava,” improper gear directly impacts operational effectiveness. Having served for nearly 15 years across major combat operations in eastern Ukraine—including Bakhmut, Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Chasiv Yar, and the Serebryansky Forest—Kudriava managed drones, electronic coordination, and signal jamming while wearing standard male-designed body armour for the first year of the war. She noted that military gear must fit like a “second skin” so soldiers can focus on survival and mission tasks rather than adjusting uncomfortable uniforms.
Efforts to reform military supply chains are expanding. Nykorak founded the NATO-supported NGO Arm Women Now, which has provided 350 sets of female body armour with lightweight plates, alongside uniforms, boots, and gear. In 2024, Ukraine introduced spring and summer jackets and pants tailored for women’s bodies. Looking ahead, Canada’s Department of National Defence announced plans to release its first body armour system featuring darting around the chest, shorter plates, and tapering for women serving in army light forces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do standard military body armour plates fail to fit female soldiers properly?
Standard ballistic plates are designed flat for men’s bodies. When worn by women, these plates rest against breast tissue and angle outward, creating hazardous gaps near the neck and lower torso that leave vital organs exposed.
How much more protection do curved plates offer according to manufacturers?
According to ballistic modeling and testing by NP Aerospace, wearing a curved plate provides 48 percent more protection than a flat plate by closing the gaps caused by standard sizing.
What international support has Ukraine received for female body armour?
How will the wider distribution of properly fitted combat gear shape the role of women in modern military operations?
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