A bullet-proof jacket designed by Indian scientist Dr Shantanu Bhowmick, has finally received the union government’s nod. The empowered committee of the Ministry of Defence gave its approval for the bullet-proof jacket, which is made from indigenous ultra modern lightweight thermoplastic technology.
According to an IndiaTimes report, Dr Bhowmick’s initiative will be included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ project. The manufacturing of the jackets will begin after the PM’s office gives it the green signal.
A joint collaboration between the DRDO and defence ministry, this is the first time in 70 years that the Indian Army will have bullet-proof jacket manufactured completely through indigenous technology.
Interestingly, India presently spends Rs 1.5 lakh on a single jacket used by the military and para-military forces and these jackets are imported from America. But, Dr Bhowmick’s jacket will cost only Rs 50,000 per jacket. That means India will save Rs 20,000 crores every year.
The present bullet proof jackets being used by our jawans in the Army, BSF, CRPF and Police are heavy, weighing anywhere between 15-18 kgs. These new light weight jackets weigh at just 1.5 kg.
It has 20 layers and the carbon fiber in it will enable the jacket to work in 57 degrees Celsius also.
Photo: AP
Who is Professor Shantanu Bhowmick?
He is the departmental head of aerospace engineering in Coimbatore’s Amrita University. He has dedicated his invention to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Other than the bullet proof jackets, his technology can also be utilised for AFVs, bullet proof vehicles and mines/blast protected vehicles, UAVs, LCAs Supersonic Aircrafts, Long Distance Missiles besides hardening of critical shelters for Army and BSF personnel in border areas.
