Defence Ministry gives nod to Make in India bullet-proof jacket for Army

An Indian scientist’s bullet-proof jacket developed for the Indian Army has finally received the Centre’s nod, it has been reported.

Dr Shantanu Bhowmick, the department head of aerospace engineering in Coimbatore’s Amrita University, developed the jacket using indigenous ultra modern lightweight thermoplastic technology, reported The Times of India.

The jacket will be introduced in the PM’s ‘Make in India’ project and manufacturing them will begin once it the PMO gives the green signal.  

As per reports, the jacket is a joint collaboration of DRO and the Ministry of Defence, and it is the first time in 70 years that the Army will have bullet-proof jacket manufactured completely through indigenous technology.

Currently, India spends Rs 1.5 lakh on a single jacket used by the military and para-military forces. These jackets are imported from America. Dr Bhowmick's jacket will cost only Rs 50,000 per jacket. That means India will save Rs 20,000 crores every year.

The present bullet proof jackets being used by our jawans in the Army, BSF, CRPF and Police are heavy, weighing anywhere between 15-18 kgs. These new light weight jackets weigh 6-8 times less at just 1.5 kg. It has 20 layers and the carbon fibre in it will enable the jacket to work in high temperatures as well.