The new jackets are capable of mitigating the highest threat levels and are lighter than the maximum weight limits stipulated for the Army.
DRDO & IIT Delhi Develop Advance Bullet Proof Jackets
DRDO along with researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets named ABHED (Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat). The jackets have been developed at the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT, Delhi. These jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.
With minimum possible weight of 8.2 kgs and 9.5 kgs for different BIS Levels, these modular-design jackets having front & rear armours provide 360o protection. The jackets have been classified as BIS level 5 and BIS level 6, by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which issues standards for bullet-resistant jackets and ballistic shields for the Indian Army.
These jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material. The design configuration is based on the characterization of various materials at high strain rates, followed by appropriate modelling and simulation in collaboration with the DRDO. The salient features of these jackets include modular configurations and 360-degree protection, with a total protection area of 3,400 square cm. It consists of rigid Hard Armour Panels flexible Soft Armour Panels and a carrier to accommodate both HAPs and SAPs, featuring an ergonomic design for Indian soldiers and security forces.
The 8 kg BIS level 5 jackets provide protection against Hard Steel Core (HSC), Mild Steel Core (MSC), and SLR bullets fired from AK-47 rifles.
BIS level 6 jackets, weighing 9.3 kg, offer protection to security personnel against sniper bullets with less than 25 mm, as well as against AK-47 rifles.
