Defence Forces begins rollout of new multimillion-euro body armour system

Published: 10:00 EDT, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 10:05 EDT, 7 October 2026

The Defence Forces has begun rolling out its new body armour system which is projected to cost up to 37 million euro.

Senior officers say the system includes several improvements in material, flexibility, and protection compared with previous equipment given to those in general service since 2006.

The Defence Forces has ordered more than 8,00 sets of the new armour at a rough cost of 25 million euro – with an accompanying combat helmet awaiting sign off from the Department of Defence before a planned phase-in next year, at around 10 to 12 million euro.

Colonel George O´Connell at Cathal Brugha Barracks (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

Soldiers who have already used the approximately 12-kilogram Integrated Modular Body Armour System (Imbas) – including members of the 69th Infantry Group who are among the final deployments to the unwinding peacekeeping mission in Lebanon – say its more comfortable and allows for greater freedom of movement, with simple regular tasks such as getting in and out of personnel carriers considered noticeably easier.

Colonel George O’Connell, director of ordnance, said the Imbas comes following decades of advancements in protective equipment within the Defence Forces – such as the “flacker” flak jacket of the 1970s which “offered basically no protection when compared to later models”.

The Imbas replaces the current General Service Body Armour (GSBA) which itself was seen as a “watershed” moment in protection for the Defence Forces.

However, the new equipment combines the comparatively clunky separate body armour and equipment-carrying “battle vest” of the GSBA into one integrated system.

It also rectifies what Col O’Connell described as a “mistake” of the GSBA by replacing a one-size-fits-all approach with several different sizes.

An undamaged ballistic plate beside another tested against sniper fire (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

The armour was tested on 1,400 members before the final design was chosen and a bulk order placed, and each set can be fitted individually to a member and further customised to their own specifications.

While there is no female-specific version, the new gear allows for modifications with foam padding to improve comfort and secure protection for women serving in the Defence Forces.

Col O’Connell said the system includes front-and-back ceramic ballistic plates for protecting vital organs against gunfire, but warned: “There is no such thing as bulletproof – if you want a bulletproof vest, buy a main battle tank and live in it.”

He said the Defence Forces has looked at the “changing nature of conflict” and the threats faced by personnel: “We’re designing body armour in order to meet the threats that we anticipate our soldiers are going to to meet and it is the many respects a guessing game.”

The Colonel said nothing has been “reinvented” by Ireland, with the system similar to gear used by the UK, German, Dutch, Danish and French militaries but with an “Irish slant” and he admitted: “We basically copied the Americans.”

A close-up of the new integrated body armour (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

He added that the Imbas is “almost the same” as the body armour worn by the Army Ranger Wing.

The armour has been tested against gunfire from a range of weapons – including handguns, the AK47, and armour piercing rounds from the SVD “Dragunov” sniper rifle – which have been used on the island in past decades or are among the firearms used in countries where members have been deployed overseas.

Col O’Connell said the new system also has been tested against fragmentation.

However, he said it is “untested” on blast protection – or the spike in air pressure following an explosion, which he said was “virtually impossible” to design tests for.

Sixty-nine sets of armour were “fully destroyed” in testing.

A close-up of the new integrated body armour (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

The Imbas uses advancements in body armour materials, design and construction methodologies in a scalable system with the Defence Forces saying it will enable personnel to operate “across the full spectrum of military options from peace support to conventional warfare”.

The new soft-armour material offers the same performance as the GSBA but Col O’Connell said it is “more hard wearing”.

Captain Ben Nolke, officer in charge of the Ordnance Clothing and Equipment Stores, said 1,000 sets have already been deployed for troops heading to Lebanon and Kosovo as well as two battalions in Ireland.

He said it is hoped 8,000 will be deployed by the end of the year amid a logistical challenge involving deliveries which required two dozen 18-wheel trucks.

Captain Nolke said the modular and integrated features of IMBAS brings “major differences” to the GSBA including down to improvements in how ammo, smoke grenades, radios and pouches for administrative equipment are attached and carried.

Captain Ben Nolke, officer in charge of the Ordnance Clothing and Equipment Stores (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

The Imbas is designed to be ambidextrous and can be modified for the soldier’s own preferences and role, with Captain Nolke stating: “The new system allows the soldier to design it themselves.”

Depending on the threat level, additional sections of protection can be added around areas like the neck, shoulders and groin to cover vulnerable arteries.

Captain Nolke said the faster movement and improved agility under the system is a protection afforded to soldiers in itself, as they are more able to get themselves out of danger.

It is the first time that armour for all members – more than 8,100 units – have been ordered at once, compared to the 10,000 units of the GSBA being delivered between 2006 and 2012.

The Imbas also features the new Irish Transitional Multicam Pattern (ITMP) which will also be used on new combat unfirms.

It is the first time the ITMP camouflage – with uniquely Irish features such as nods to shamrocks and the “FF” logo of the Defence Forces – is entering service.

The new combat helmet, when introduced, will have a fitted mount for night vision equipment, accessory rails and offer protections against blunt impact as well as being penetration resistant.

Col O’Connell said it will be closest in design to helmets used by the Dutch and “very similar” to that of the Danish military – with the ordnance director hoping it be signed off within the next month for deployment in the middle of next year.

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.