New Delhi: Army will be acquiring 62,500 Bullet Proof (BP) jackets for its frontline troops which would be able to protect them from steel core bullets during anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
In addition to frontline, the steel core like bullets are also used sometimes by the militants in the Kashmir valley during encounters with security forces.
The Ministry of Defence will procure the BP jackets under Make in India. While 47,627 jackets will be acquired under the normal route, 15,000 jackets will be purchased under emergency procurement procedures which would be finalised in the next three to four months, the officials said.
The procurement for 47,627 jackets would be done in phases and is expected to be completed in the next 18-24 months, they said.
The specifications listed by the Army stated that the Bullet Proof jackets should be able to protect a soldier against 7.62 mm armour-piercing rifle ammunition as well as steel core bullets fired from a distance of 10 metres.
In a few of the incidents in the Kashmir valley, militants used American armour-piercing bullets in encounters with security forces and were successful in breaching the Bullet Proof jackets of soldiers.
The APBs along with the M-16 assault rifles and M-4 carbines have been left behind in huge numbers by the retreating American Army which quit Afghanistan, 20 years after it started the war against terror. Following its retreat, Afghanistan fell into Taliban control.
The jackets being procured would be level 4 which are considered to be effective against steel core bullets and would be first provided to the troops deployed in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources confirmed that the force would ensure that the jackets have been made in India and material is not sourced from any of the adversaries.
The Bullet Proof jackets will go a long way in protecting the Army soldiers during operations against the militants in hinterland of the Kashmir valley as well as Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the officials said.
“The Bullet Proof jackets will provide adequate protection to the Army soldiers against steel core bullets which have been used by the militants in certain encounters and there were apprehensions that they could be used in future as well,” they added.
As per the sources, troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir mainly the Valley and the LoC with Pakistan will get the Bullet Proof jackets on priority.
