BRITAIN might allow women to serve in British Army infantry and armoured units for the first time from 2016, the defence secretary said.

The move would bring the British army into line with some other Western forces and change the face of the military in Scotland.

Britain's army currently allows women to serve on the front line, but does not let them join units whose main function is to engage and kill the enemy.

The United States, Australia and Canada are among those nations which already have women in close combat roles.

The Ministry of Defence said that women were a step closer to being permitted to join close ground combat units after a review established that mixed groups would not undermine troop cohesion. But it said further research was needed before their admission was given the green light.

That research would focus on exploring the physiological demands of close combat roles and its impact on women's health.

It is estimated that there are between six and 12 women in each infantry batallion but they are currently confined to support staff roles. They make up as little as 1% of a batallion.

The move would change the shape of the army in Scotland which is home to five infanty regiments.

"I hope that, following further work on our training regimes and equipment, we can open up combat roles to women in 2016," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said.

He denied that this would mean "weakening" the training of frontline troops to make allowances for women's physiques.

Mr Fallon said: "Roles in our Armed Forces should be determined by ability not gender. I hope that, following further work on our training regimes and equipment, we can open up combat roles to women in 2016.

"This is a further sign of our commitment to maximising our talent in a year which has already seen the Royal Navy employ its first female submariners and two women climb to the highest-ever ranks in the RAF."

Women are currently not allowed to join the ranks of the infantry and Armoured Corps but serve in a variety of combat roles across the forces, including fighter pilots, sailors and most recently, submariners.

Further research will evaluate the physical demands of fighting on the front line and how it may impact women's health, while training regimes to allow women to integrate will also be explored.

The MoD said the review had ended the view that women joining men in combat roles would have an "adverse effect on cohesion".

Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, who led the review, said: "I look forward to the prospect of opening ground close combat roles to women, but we have to look at this in a responsible way.

"Our aim must be to maximise the use of talent without compromising our standards or undermining capability."

But the proposal has met with concern and criticism from some senior military figures.

Major General Patrick Cordingley, a former commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade, known as the "Desert Rats" said: "There is a political imperative. However, I think that it is a mistake from the armed forces.

"I can understand why politically it is a good thing to be seen to be doing - on the other hand, the practicalities of women in the infantry and armoured corps are considerable and should not be overlooked."

Former army officer Ashley Merry said the move would affect very few women and described it as "counter-productive".

She said: "Women are already on the front line doing a very real job very effectively.

"I don't welcome this news that they are going to be considered for combat roles in the infantry, because in reality there's very few posts that are not open to women and women have moved so far in the armed forces.

"I don't see why we are having to go this extra step because for the numbers involved I think it's really counter-productive when there are more important things that the Ministry of Defence and commanders should be concentrating on.

"At the moment we are living in such dangerous times. This is not the time to be experimenting with something new to be politically correct. If it's not broken, why try and fix it?"

Colonel Mike Dewar - a military historian who served in Cyprus, Borneo and Northern Ireland - added: "Upper body strength in 99.9% of women does make it virtually impossible for them to pass the stringent physical tests which the infantry require."