Combat vest (No official designation available yet).

As with the other new individual equipment the Finns have clearly intended to look on what has been working out internationally first before deciding on the new equipment. The new combat vest is a mixture, and adaption to Finnish conditions, of what is used in other countries. It is probably influenced by the Swedish army combat vest to some extenth, but lacks the padded hip-belt of the Swedish vest. Being modular it allows each individual soldier to adapt it to his own needs. After all a medic has a quite different use to his load bearing equipment compared to a machinegunner and so forth. To the vest there will be issued a 40 litre modular combat pack. And a large about 80 litre modular transportation rucksack/bag.


Two soldiers during a display in 2003, the soldiers have m/91 uniforms and a test model of a new Finnish-made combat vest. The
soldier on the left has body armour under his vest, while the soldier on the right has not. The modular capabilities on the vest is
clearly visible on the picture. The soldier can attach the pouches on the vest, where he feels that he can use them effectively. The
soldier on the left is armed with a 7.62 RK 95, with a weapons light and laser designator, as well as a EOtech sight. The soldier
on the right has the Finnish army VV 2000 night vision device attached to his 7.62 RK 95.


Three soldiers during a display held in 2003 showing of test versions of the new Finnish combat vest. Two of
the soldiers have body armour under the vest while one of them has none. Also visible on the picture is the modular
combat pack on the back of the soldier kneeling nearest to the camera, the soldier standing up has a smaller day
combat pack, intended to replace the carrying capacity of the buttpack on the m/85 combat belt.