Britain’s war dogs will be soon hit the frontlines with new combat vests and goggles as part of a £3.1million kit upgrade.
Hundreds combat canines will be given new protective gear, which includes fleece-lined, rubber-soled safety boots to protect their paws from extreme heat, broken glass, and shrapnel.
Military working dogs will also be kitted out with ear defenders fitted in elastic ‘snoods’ to protect them from loud sounds like gunfire and grenade explosions as they sniff out explosives and boobytraps.
Cooling vests that can be soaked in water will be included in the new uniform deal, that will stop Britain’s four-legged fighting pups overheating in arid battlefields like the Middle East.
More than 500 dogs, including German shepherds, springer spaniels, labradors and other carefully chosen breeds, are employed across the British Army, RAF and Royal Military Police.
Britain’s war dogs will be soon hit the frontlines with new combat vests and goggles as part of a £3.1million kit upgrade
Protective goggles are among the items the dogs will receive as part of the deal to better protect them while serving alongside British troops in war zones
They carry out crucial roles on the frontline, from sniffing out hidden bombs with their sensitive noses, to carrying joining patrols with soldiers.
Four-legged fighters are also used by the special forces during daring raids – with a Belgian Malinois called Mali, famed for its role in helping Special Boat Service troops storm a group of heavily-armed militants in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2012.
Mali saved the lives of his unit many times during the eight-hour firefight by alerting troops to enemy locations and sniffing out safe routes through the booby-trapped building.
Mali was later injured by grenade shrapnel to the belly, ears and chest and earned the PDSA Dickin Medal – the animal version of the Victoria Cross, which is highest military honour a dog can receive.
The new equipment deal is part of a five-year MoD contract deal with Surrey-based Von Wolf K9 animal kit firm and will include the provision of ‘stimulating activities’ for the dogs.
New training aides are being rolled out, including tunnels, weave poles, jumps and toys to ensure dogs’ ‘lives are enriched throughout their time in service’, the MoD said.
Also rolling out are revamped harnesses, which are fitted with buckles and D-rings to strap dogs to soldiers parachuting on to targets or fast-roping from a helicopter.
As well as goggles, the dogs will also receive ‘snoods’ that contain ear defenders to protect their hearing during noisy gun fights in buildings
And new boots will be issued to better protect the feet of frontline canine heroes from glass, shrapnel and high temperatures
Handlers will also be able to see what their hounds see if they charge into battle, thanks to new mounting points for cameras.
And floats can be fitted to the harnesses to turn them into life-jackets for dogs on missions at sea.
The contract was awarded by Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S), which procures all of Britain’s military kit. Liam Brown, an operations manager at DE&S, said the welfare and security of the dogs and handlers was of ‘paramount importance to us’.
He added the deal would cater to the needs and specific requirements of the dogs in the ‘most efficient way’.
‘Von Wolf will be instrumental in contributing to the continued prosperity and security of the UK, ensuring we continue to deliver the highest level of training and protection for all MoD working dogs day-to-day, and during specialist operations and directed tasks,’ he said.
The MoD added: ‘Dogs are the armed forces’ best friend and have invaluable roles in combat, from mine-clearing to sniffing out danger, to help keep people safe.’
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