After 8 years, army personnel to get bullet-proof jackets

The first consignment of 20,000 bullet-proof jackets was delivered on Oct 15.

New Delhi, Nov 23: After eight long years, Indian Army will be getting bullet-proof jackets for its troops specially those posted in militancy-hit areas.

According to news reports, the first consignment of 20,000 bullet-proof jackets was delivered on Oct 15. This is the first lot of the 50,000 jackets placed in March for Rs 140 crore.

The number of jackets needed for the Army is 353,765 as per a plan in 2009, of which 1.86 lakh were to be supplied in the 11th plan (2007-2012) and another 1.67 lakh jackets were to be supplied during the 12th plan (2012-2017).

Currently the army uses bulky bullet-proof jackets that do not provide great agility to the soldiers. The new jackets will be light weight and at the same time will protect the soldiers.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said in Rajya Sabha: "The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in October, 2009 for procurement of 3,53,765 Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs), including quantity 1,86,138 to be procured in the 11th Army Plan."

"The Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to 36 vendors on 3.3.2011, but had to be retracted on 8.12.2011 to address issues in respect of conduct of trials."

OneIndia News