Amid rising attacks on Indian troops in the territories and states which consider New Delhi as an illegal occupier, Indian army has issued tenders to buy thousands of bulletproof jackets (BPJs) to protect its armed personnel from steel core bullets.
The threat of the use of steel core bullets is more serious in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam and Manipure, whose people view the Indian Army as an aggressor. In a bid to cope with the situation, Indian army has issued tenders for acquiring 62,500 bulletproof jackets (BPJs) for its frontline troops.
The jackets being procured through these two tenders would be level 4 which are considered to be effective against steel core bullets and would be first provided to the troops deployed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has issued two separate tenders for these jackets under Make in India including one for 47,627 jackets under the normal route and the other one for 15,000 jackets under emergency procurement procedures which would be finalized in the next three to four months, Indian Army officials told the media men.
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 state that the BPJs 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.—KMS
