The Ministry of Defence is drawing on lessons from Ukraine to inform improvements to body armour, including feedback from female personnel, while continuing to face scrutiny over the use of real bearskin caps in ceremonial uniforms, the UK Defence Journal understands.
In response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Richard Holden, ministers confirmed that UK procurement teams are working with personnel involved in Operation INTERFLEX to capture frontline insights from Ukrainian forces. This includes feedback on equipment fit and performance.
The Department said: “Procurement experts within the National Armaments Director group work closely with the Ministry of Defence’s Op INTERFLEX Handling and Processing team, which collates feedback from Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel.”
It added that, “This includes lessons from operational experience and female user feedback, which help to inform UK capability development.”
The work is linked to ongoing efforts to update protective equipment, including the Tactical Ballistic Plates project, aimed at improving body armour issued to UK personnel.
Separately, Liberal Democrat MP Manuela Perteghella raised questions over the continued use and cost of traditional bearskin caps worn by guards regiments. In response, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that each cap currently costs £2,460 including VAT and can last more than two decades depending on maintenance.
Pollard said: “The current cost of a bearskin cap is £2,460 including VAT. Whilst the longevity of caps varies depending on how they are maintained, this can be up to and in excess of 20 years.”
The Ministry of Defence has not yet identified a viable synthetic alternative that meets its requirements. Pollard noted: “The Department has not yet identified a synthetic alternative that meets the standards required to provide an effective replacement for bearskin ceremonial caps.”
However, the Department continues to assess potential options. “The Ministry of Defence remains committed to finding a synthetic alternative and continues to welcome submissions of test results… on synthetic alternatives that meet our criteria for a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative,” he added.
Fitted for but not with fur.
F**king ridiculous,
What over promoted public school boy has us wearing £2000 real fur hats.
No doubt we will need a 2000 page document of requirements to find a synthetic alternative
The language they use to describe the replacement is how they describe real procurement😂😂, is it in the concept phase? We cling to much on our past, we need to move on. Rather see money go to 5 more t31 with sonar inset of pointless walking up and down.
Think the MOD are just upperclass Eaton twits that think they know politics. Rant over, cheers 👍
With everything going on in the world, SMH. Typically dopey Liberal Democrats.
Hats are an absolute procurement priority in a rapidly changing drone environment. We need AI integration into all real fur hats. They will be a system of systems approach to the replacement. More details will be released in the100% upcoming DIP. (Which will have a dip in defence spending)