Romania has been showing off its latest piece of military kit – a special bulletproof vest for women.<br /><br />The new model is designed to take account of women’s different body shapes, including different bra sizes.<br /><br />Romania’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) says 3,500 female soldiers in the Romanian Army could benefit from the new vest.<br /><br />“This is a jacket with ballistic protection specially designed for women personnel,” said scientific research Claudiu Lazaroaie, who led the project for the MOD . <br /><br />“Cups were inserted into this vest. Women look different compared to men and men’s flak jackets don’t really fit. <br /><br />“Furthermore, the jacket was designed to match women’s body shape with a slightly narrower waist and slightly larger hips. The protection package is the same as for men’s jackets.”<br /><br />Romanian soldier Viorica Patrichie tried the new vest on for size.<br /><br />She said: “I initially tried a man’s jacket which the Romanian Ministry of Defence used as standard issue comparison. <br /><br />“This one here fits better on the body even though this particular one is slightly larger than I want. But still, it’s better (than wearing a man’s jacket).”<br /><br />Women have reported that men’s vests are tight around the torso, making it difficult for them to move their hands, while the waist is usually too loose.<br /><br />The vest costs about 10 to 15 percent more to manufacture than the men’s standard body armour because of complications in the tailoring.<br />
