Personal armor protection for Russian soldiers will be bolstered by new lightweight but tough body armor vests and by bulletproof battle dress uniforms, the first for any army.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said the new bulletproof vest made of ultra-light and high-strength material will be 30 percent lighter than the current model. This new vest is being developed as part of the "Ratnik-3 personal combat uniform kit" for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

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The current bulletproof vest weighs some 15 kilograms, including protection for the groin, forearms and neck. Ratnik-3 body armor, including the ballistic inserts, will be up to 30 percent lighter.

Work on Ratnik-3 was officially launched last January and aims to develop third-generation soldier equipment using advanced materials. The new materials will slash the weight of bulletproof vests without sacrificing its durability.

Unique among world armies will be the development of a battle dress uniform made from aramid fibers (the same material from which Kevlar is made). Bulletproof vests and combat helmets will be made from new armor ceramics containing boron carbide, one of the hardest known materials. Boron-carbon ceramic and covalent materials used in Russian tank armor are already in production.

The new body armor will be used both for the existing Ratnik-2 and the upcoming Ratnik-3 infantry combat kits. While work on Ratnik-3 is in progress, the armed forces continue outfitting more soldiers with Ratnik-2, which is also referred to as the "soldier of the future" gear.

Russian Ground Forces commander Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov said more than 80,000 Russian servicemen were equipped with Ratnik-2 in 2015.

Russia claims Ratnik-2 boosts its soldier's combat efficiency and survivability because it weight only 20 kilograms, or half as much as its predecessor. Ratnik-2 is mainly designed for snipers, riflemen, armored vehicle drivers and airborne combat vehicle gunners.

Ratnik also helps soldiers maintain stable radio contact and receive continuously updated reconnaissance data about enemy positions and the overall combat situation.

Tagsbody armor, Ratnik-3 personal combat uniform kit, Russian soldiers, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov