Just months after deciding that the Army soldiers will get bullet-proof jackets, the Indian Army is all set to provide its infantry soldiers with bullet-proof helmets too. This basic protection gear will be upgraded after decades of neglect.
A contract for more than 1.58 lakh light-weight ballistic helmets, worth around ₹170 crore, is on the table now. If the contract is indeed inked, it will be the second such deal to ensure better personal protection for infantry soldiers after bullet-proof jackets.
Earlier, the Army had inked ₹140 crore contract for “emergency” procurement of 50,000 new bullet-proof jackets from Tata Advanced Materials Limited after a delay of over a decade.
About the new bullet-proof helmets:
- A Kanpur-based Indian company, MKU Industries, has been given the contract to manufacture within a span of three years. MKU is an exporter of bulletproof jackets and helmets all over the world.
- The helmets come with 13mm trauma protection pads.
- The helmets for “commanders” will also be equipped with integrated communication headsets.
- These ballistic helmets can stop 9mm bullets from around 20 metres. It will also be possible to mount night-vision sights, protective goggles and other devices on them.
- The existing helmets are not only bulky weighing 2.5kg, but also provide protection from only splinters and rocks and only give limited protection to the top of heads and not the sides
The current head gear of army soldiers - Indian jawans earlier used to get Israel made OR-201 helmet made of Glass Reinforced Plastic, but that was also only for Army’s elite para special forces.
