As a result of promise for eight long years, Indian Army will now be getting bullet-proof jackets especially for its troops that are tirelessly serving in militancy-hit areas. According to news records, 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 count of BP-Jackets that were required in hands was recorded to be 3,53,765 as per the recorded calculation as on 2009,  of which 1.9 lakh pieces were to be handed over as per 11th plan(2007-2012) and the rest 1.7 lakh pieces as in the 12th plan(2012-2017).

Even on today, the army uses bulky bullet-proof jackets that do not provide great agility to the soldiers. The new jackets will be lightweight 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 the conduct of trials.”