List of equipment of the British Army

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This is a shorter, easy-to-understand version of the British Army’s equipment.

Overview
- The British Army keeps updating its weapons, vehicles, and gear to meet current and future demands. Some updates come from urgent needs after conflicts, while others come from longer-term programs.
- Units are organized for different roles, from front-line infantry to engineers, artillery, aviation, and logistics.
- New gear is tested and phased in as older equipment is retired or replaced.

Infantry equipment
- Rifle sections: A typical infantry section has eight soldiers led by a corporal, with a second-in-command and two fireteams (Charlie and Delta). Soldiers use SA80 rifles with modern aiming sights, plus attachments such as foregrips and red-dot sights.
- Anti-armor and grenades: The NLAW disposable anti-tank weapon is standard, along with various explosive and smoke grenades. Specialist devices (like certain mines or breaching tools) can be issued if needed.
- Sidearms and other weapons: Some soldiers carry Glock pistols and a mix of other close-range weapons for specialist roles.
- Sniper and sharpshooter rifles: A range of designated marksman and sniper rifles is used across units, with different variants for regular troops and special forces.
- Ammunition and support gear: Standard magazines, breaching tools, and battlefield accessories are issued as required.

Protection and clothing
- Helmets and armor: Every soldier wears a modern helmet (Virtus) with good protection and comfort, plus a scalable body armor system (Virtus STV) and additional pelvic protection. Some versions of body armor and equipment are used for training or specific roles.
- Respirators and clothing: General service respirators and Multi-Terrain Pattern clothing help camouflage and protection in varying environments. Boots are chosen for comfort and weather, with several types available.
- Load carriage: The Virtus system is the primary load-carrying setup, designed to distribute weight between shoulders and hips. Soldiers can attach pouches and accessories for ammunition, radios, water, and medical gear. Older PLCE webbing is still seen in some training or legacy use.

Vehicles and movement
- Main battle tank: Challenger 2 is being upgraded to Challenger 3, with full deployment expected by 2027.
- Armoured and reconnaissance: The Ajax family covers different roles, including light reconnaissance and fire support. Boxers are the main future-wheeled infantry vehicles, intended to replace several older platforms; hundreds of Boxers are planned or in service, with Initial Operating Capability in the mid-2020s and full deployment later.
- Other armoured vehicles: Mastiff, Ridgeback, and Wolfhound variants provide protected mobility. The Boxer family is set to replace older heavy and infantry vehicles.
- Light and high-mobility vehicles: Supacat drives (including Jackal and Coyote variants) move troops and supplies over rough terrain. The Jankel Al-Thalab and other light vehicles have seen use in past operations.
- Support and transport: Various trucks, medical transports, and command vehicles form the support backbone for field operations. Some vehicles are being replaced or upgraded to improve safety and performance.

Artillery, missiles, and air defense
- Self-propelled and towed guns: The AS90 is being replaced by a new 155 mm system called the RCH-155, to be mounted on a Boxer chassis as part of the Mobile Fires Platform. This will create a common set of platform components and reduce the number of different vehicle types.
- MLRS and air defense: The British Army is modernizing its multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) to a higher-capacity fleet, with several batteries planned for upgrade. The Sky Sabre and Land Ceptor systems provide land-based air and missile defense.
- Command, control, and sensors: New radars and C4I systems integrate missiles and air defense into a single network for better tracking and engagement.

Engineering, logistics, and support
- Royal Engineers: A wide fleet supports combat engineering, riverine and amphibious tasks, and infrastructure building. They also handle bomb disposal, fortifications, and road/rail improvements.
- Maintenance and contracts: The army works with private and public partners to keep vehicles and equipment in service, including earth-moving gear and heavy lifting equipment.
- Logistics and transport: The Royal Logistic Corps and other units use a robust set of support vehicles, watercraft, and cargo systems to keep operations supplied and mobile.

Unmanned and autonomous systems
- Robotics and drones: The Army is trialing unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for reconnaissance and cargo, and autonomous or semi-autonomous platforms for surveillance and support.
- Electric and specialty vehicles: Some trials look at electric power for vehicles. New robotic and remotely operated platforms are being tested to improve safety and effectiveness in difficult environments.

Aircraft, watercraft, and patrol craft
- Aircraft and air mobility: The Army uses helicopters and fixed-wing assets for transport, reconnaissance, and support. Some trials and upgrades are planned to improve airlift and fire support.
- Watercraft and amphibious: The Army uses small watercraft and landing craft to move equipment and personnel from ships to shore, including support boats and raiding craft for amphibious operations.

Future plans and trials
- New rifles and rifle systems: A future weapons program aims to standardize and improve small arms with common parts and updated performance.
- Fires and command systems: The plan to replace older artillery with the RCH-155 and a more unified platform approach is a major modernization effort.
- Robotic and autonomous testing: The Army is conducting trials of heavy unmanned systems, including ground and air platforms, to expand battlefield options.
- Continuous updates: Programs run to assess and replace older gear, keeping the Army ready for current battles and future threats.

This is a snapshot of how the British Army equips, protects, and moves its people and systems. Details can change as programs progress and new technologies enter service.