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Tactical Body Armour

Our body armour range offers comprehensive protection for military personnel, security forces, and tactical operators. Designed to safeguard vital areas without sacrificing mobility, our armour is tested to meet the highest standards.

Wel stock a comprehensive range of body armour and ballistic protection for military personnel, security forces, and tactical operators. Whether you need a full tactical body armour set-up, a standalone bulletproof vest, ballistic plates or a plate carrier, our UK-based team supplies trusted brands tested to recognised protection standards. Browse lightweight body armour for everyday carry, full body armour for high-threat environments, and specialist MTB armour protection built for UK operators and professionals.
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Choosing the right body armour

Whether you need full body armour for high-threat environments or lightweight body armour for speed and mobility, UK Tactical supplies ballistic protection systems built around the requirements of British operators. Our body armour range is trusted by the British Armed Forces, UK police units, private security teams and close protection professionals, covering everything from concealable bulletproof vests to modular plate carrier set-ups.

Tactical body armour built for combat conditions

Designed for frontline use, our tactical body armour combines cutting-edge ballistic materials with an ergonomic fit to maximise protection, mobility and comfort, even in extreme environments. From black body armour vests to modular plate carriers and full body armour set-ups, every product is engineered for reliability under pressure and built to deliver the body protection professionals demand.

What types of body armour are available at UK Tactical?

Body armour sold in the UK is rated against the Home Office Body Armour Standard, administered through CAST (formerly HOSDB). This is the benchmark used by British police forces and government buyers, and it defines the threats each class of armour is tested to defeat. The ratings you'll see most commonly across our range are:

  • HG1 and HG2 soft body armour: concealable protection against handgun threats, suitable for close protection, uniformed patrol and plainclothes security roles.
  • RF1 armour plates: hard ballistic plates rated to defeat common rifle rounds, including 7.62x51mm, used by military and tactical units.
  • RF2 armour plates: rifle-rated plates offering protection against a broader range of rifle threats, including armour-piercing rounds at defined velocities.
  • RF3 armour plates: the highest rifle rating under the Home Office standard, designed to defeat high-velocity armour-piercing rounds in high-threat operational settings.
We stock soft body armour and hard armour plates across these ratings, allowing you to build a set-up matched to your role.

What types of body armour are available at UK Tactical?

We stock soft body armour vests for lower-threat civilian, security and close protection use, alongside rifle-rated armour plates compatible with certified plate carriers. You'll also find a full range of ballistic helmets and supporting body protection equipment to complete a load out.


Whats the difference between a bulletproof vest and body armour?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but a "bulletproof vest" typically refers to a soft armour vest rated to defeat handgun threats (HG1 or HG2), while "body armour" is a broader category that also includes hard armour plates and plate carriers capable of defeating rifle rounds. If you need concealable, everyday protection, a bulletproof vest is likely the right choice. For military or tactical roles, a plate carrier fitted with rifle-rated armour plates offers a significantly higher level of ballistic protection.

Is your body armour UK compliant?

Yes. Our vests, carriers and plates are suitable for UK operational use and are widely deployed across the British Armed Forces, UK police units, emergency services and private security sectors. Body armour is legal to own in the UK for personal protection, and our team can advise on the right specification for your role.

Can I fit armour plates to the vests?

Most of our tactical body armour vests and plate carriers are designed to accept standard-size armour plates (sold separately), allowing RF1, RF2 or RF3 ballistic protection depending on the plates you choose.

What is black body armour used for?

Black body armour vests offer discreet, low-visibility protection ideal for uniformed operations, plainclothes roles and tactical training. Black is also the most versatile colour for close protection teams and private security operatives working across varied operational environments. 

How heavy is full body armour?

Weight varies by configuration. A lightweight body armour set-up with soft armour alone can weigh as little as 1.5–2.5kg, while a full body armour configuration with RF3 plates, side plates and a loaded plate carrier can exceed 10kg. We stock lightweight options for mobility-focused roles and full tactical rigs for higher-threat British operational deployments.