Indian Army yet to receive bullet-proof jackets promised to them in 2009

A decade after the Indian Army’s demand and six years after the government gave the proposal a go-ahead, the army is yet to receive lightweight bullet-proof jackets for their use, reports T__imes of India. [caption id=“attachment_2319206” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The Indian army is yet to receive lightweight, bullet-proof jackets[/caption] The surprising part is that even though the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by then defence minister AK Antony cleared the purchase of 1,86,138 bullet-proof jackets for the Indian Army in October 2009, the manufacturers submitted their techno-commercial bids only by 2013, as reported by  Deccan Herald. The new jackets, along with helmets were supposed to protect the head, neck and groin of the soldiers besides helping them with greater mobility. Weighing less than 4 kgs, the jackets would also include a trauma pad with all-around soft armour plate which would of great help in low-threat missions. The jackets used by the army currently are not only ill-fitting, but also heavy and old. They weigh over 10 kg and are at least 15 years old. According to CNN-IBN, the soldiers of the Rashtriya Rifles and HQ 16 Corps have themselves written letters complaining about the heavy jackets which make agility cumbersome. However, that too has not been enough for the authorities to take any action. In an earlier TOI report, it came to light that there has been absolutely no update on the 1.86 lakh jackets, which is still at the trial evaluation stage. Thus, if a  Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence report is to be believed , nearly 3.5 lakh jawans don’t have access to bullet proof jackets. This means that they are shielding our country’s borders without their basic kit shielding them. If this was not enough, a separate proposal for purchasing helmets too seems to have made no headway.