Delay in Providing Bullet-Proof Jackets for Army

Delay in Providing Bullet-Proof Jackets for Army

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in October, 2009 for capital procurement of Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) inclusive of quantity 1,86,138 to be procured in 11th Army Plan. Request for Proposal was retracted on 5.10.2015 as the BPJs fielded by the vendors failed in the trials. 

Capital Procurement of equipment for the defence forces are progressed as per the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). The DPP provides timelines for different stages of procurement.

The Government has taken into consideration the deficiencies in some of the critical ammunitions and has taken steps to mitigate the deficiencies to ensure desired level of operational-preparedness commensurate to threat perception in a dynamic strategic scenario.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Vijay Jawaharlal Darda in Rajya Sabha today. 

- PTI

In detail about the Bullet proof jackets  - Urgency : Bullet proof vests for Soldiers

The Dream of Modern Bullet Proof's for Soldiers

 The Dream of Modern Bullet Proof's for Soldiers

    The Committee during the course of examination of Demands for Grants 2009-10 had noted that there was deficiency of 186168 units of Bullet Proof Jackets. Even when the approval of Defence Acquisition Council was obtained on 19.10.2009 for purchase of the requisite number of BPJs during the Eleventh Plan, 

     The issue of purchase of desired BPJs is still fraught with various complications. The Committee understand during the course of deliberations on Demands for Grants of this year that the Ministry is confronting with some problems on issue of RFP. RFP was issued initially on 3rd March, 2011 however, due to problems envisaged during conduct of ballistic trials RFP was retracted on 9th December, 2011. Now, the suitable amendments are being made in the GSQR and fresh RFP would be issued.”

    “Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of 1,86,138 Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJ) was prepared and issued on 03.03.11. Techno commercial offers from six vendors were received on 27.07.2011. However, the RFP had to be retracted on 09 December 2011 due to technical problems envisaged during ballistic trials. Subsequently, the GSQR was amended and approved by GSEPC on 11.04.2012. New RFP would be issued after procedure for trial Methodology is finalized.

     “Another issue consistently been raised by the Committee is the weight of the Bullet Proof Jackets. When the issue was raised in the Seventh Report on Demands for Grants 2009-10, the Ministry in the Action Taken Note had stated that the weight of the BPJ is incremental from less than 4 Kgs to a maximum of 11.5 Kgs based on level of threat. 

     To substantiate the point of view of the Ministry, the Committee have been informed in the Action Taken Note that the soldier is not required to wear the BPJ at its maximum weight under low threat levels. Even when the proposals have been approved by DAC, the Ministry is confronting with RFP issues. 

     Initial RFP was retracted way back on 9th December 2011 due to some problem and till date fresh RFP has not been issued. The Committee express unhappiness over the way the procurement of such an important life saving items required for forces is being delayed.”

    “The Committee deplore the way the Ministry has dealt with the issue of weight of BPJs whereby it has been stated that the soldier is not required to wear the BPJs at its maximum weight under low 16 threat levels. The Committee strongly recommend that at least now the initiatives should be taken to fast track the purchase of BPJs. Besides it should be ensured that the BPJs are of low weight and of world class quality.”

     “RFP for procurement of Bullet Proof Jackets is under preparation and is likely to be issued shortly. GSQRs have been amended to provide the best Bullet Proof Jackets available to soldiers of the Indian Army.”

    The Committee are astonished to find that despite the existing deficiency of 186138 Bullet Proof Jacket units leading to risking the life of as many soldiers and officers, the Ministry has yet not taken any concrete steps to procure Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) and procurement of the same is still at preparation of RFP stage.

    Therefore, the Committee recommend that new Request for Proposal (RFP) should be immediately issued so that this life saving item should be procured urgently. While issuing the RFP, it should also be ensured that light weight BPJs of world class quality should only be procured.

TATA Composite material tested against 7.62x39mm rounds

Indian Army Basic Fire Arm issue

Indian Army Basic Fire Arm issue 

Indian Army Para Commandos with TAR 21

      It's been addressed many times, even the last UPA regime and current BJP government, But still the Army using decades old AK series for Counter insurgency and faulty INSAS for conventional warfare. since problems in such fire arms the government bought only some numbers of modern assault rifles specially for special forces, those models include M 4 and TAR 21 models,

      And the army went for buy modern rifles from abroad, since the Indian versions still lacks the quality and manufacturing, Army shortlisted four international vendors and tested their models, but unfortunately all four failed in the High altitude conditions Janes reported. and the effective trails of multi caliber infantry weapon system  also put on forward, the Army also looking to place additional order of TAR rifles which were produced under license,

       So far Indian Army has more than  one million active soldiers. which divided into some 350+ battalions each comprising some 800 Soldiers, battalions also divided into four companies comprising 200 Soldiers for each company, which is also divided into three platoons, each having sixty Soldiers commanded by a Junior Commissioned officer, Here each soldiers specialized in his department whether Gunner, Marksman, Radio man,and Medic

      Actually each platoons have special Marksman Sniper Rifles, Anti Tank missiles, MANPAD's, Machine gunner and Assault team, when we looks their equipments, It's small shock since they using obsolete equipments, from Assault rifles to Anti tank guided missiles too, Here the level of shortage.

Assault Rifles for Army

the MCIWS which replaces the INSAS

       Assault Rifles are the first and foremost infantry fire arms, there is no replacements in the sight to change  where OFB comes with  MCIWS which is being in development stages, and the MCIWS is the only current Assault rifle in option to Replace the old INSAS, the MCIWS firstly revealed in the Def Expo 2014, and as of now three prototypes developed which is in development trails, the MCIWS can fire both 5.56mm and 7.62mm standard Rifles by  changing the Rifle Barrel only.

Carbines- CQB

Coast Guard with AMOGH 5.56mm

       Carbines are used for close battle situations, such as special operations, and counter insurgency. Indian Army using specialized variants of Ak series rifles for this role called AKM , and recently some good numbers of  M4 and TAR 21 bought by the Army for special operations.the CQB deal scrapped due to all the Four contenders Rifle Failed in some Trails, The Barretta ARX 160, TAR 21 and M4,  The OFB also presented it's AMOGH 5.56mm carbine, Some of the Coast Guard using AMOGH rifles as of Now.

Sniper

Dedicated Sniper Rifle .338 Laupua Magnum

        So far Army relay's on the vintage soviet era Sniper Rifle Dragnov, for Sniper ops and using Indian made Vidhwansak for Anti material use, since the Dragnov not effective to penetrate modern ballistic vests, the SVD is not actually a pure Sniper, It's a Designated Marksman Rifle only for Sharp shooting, It's time to modernize with new generation Sniper Rifles. earlier the NSG went for Heckler Hock  MSG 90 and some bough US made baretta M 82 .50 cal Modern Sniper, currently most of them uses .339 laupua magnum bullets operated sniper Rifles.

Machine Gun

IMI Negev 7.62mm LMG

   For continuous fire support, heavy friendly fire support and Suppressing fire gives boost to the friendly forces to allow and move their positions, changing their magazines and simulating targets. mean time enemy pinned down for continuous fire from our side, India operates some tri pod version of Heavy machine guns and some unknown numbers of Older version of PKM Light Machine guns, who is 7.62 mm Caliber, for battle support,Army also plans to replace those vintage MG with modern light weight Machine guns. as per known details most of the MARCOS,IAF Garuds ,swat teams of Punjab,chattisgarh,Octopus unit of hyderabad. who using the IWI Negev 7.62 Machine Guns, It's believed that Negev is going to replace all existing LMG from Indian Forces.

Anti Tanks

  Army uses second generation Milan ATGM, which will be replaced soon by more powerful Israeli made Spike ATGM systems, the ministry already cleared the deal, but no time line available about the delivery,

MANPAD

Army is in evaluation trails of new generation MANPAD system, since Army have only less numbers of soviet era Igla MANPADS, as per details the Army soon announce the winner and start negotiating about procuring some thousand plus systems. so far Russian made Igla S leading the Trails,

BFJ,Helmet and NVD

No informations available yet, since it's too many times the Ministry scrapped the deal of Helmets and BFJ, and no informations about the Night Vision devices.

mini UAV

Almost all other Army's have battlefield UAV's, Indian army also evaluating some Indian private company's UAV's, the American Raven UAV also in consideration.   

Urgency : Bullet proof vests for Soldiers

Urgency Bullet proof vests for Soldiers

   
      It's a Shocking update that Parliamentary standing committee issued, about the lack of much needed Bullet Proof Jackets for Army regular Soldiers. The committee warn's the defense ministry to speed up the  procurement plans, where all the other operational BFJ's shelf life expired by 2016. The Initial plan is to equip some 2 lakhs of Soldiers who fighting in the frontier and special forces who deployed close to enemy lines. The plan is not just new, The initial RFP floated by Previous Government in 2009.

    And the same RFP was canceled and floated again in 2012, thus takes another three years while making no clear results. and the 2012 RFP still on the race and ministry yet to respond the vendors. Recently the Home Ministry identifies the shortage of BFJ's to it's forces like CRPF in Naxal affected Area's and other para military soldiers like SPG, Parliament security and more.

      An Indian Company secures the orders to supply 59,000 Modern BFJ's for under 100 corers and says they will supply within the next  eight month from the contract signature date. The Company Named MKU, who is a German company issuing Ballistic Jackets to NATO and German Soldiers So far they delivered more than 15 million units all over the world, an Indian Businessman Named Gupta Acquired the same Company and runs under an Indian owner, Hence the company is an Indian.

      The same also for Defence ministry, the Army urgently need an requirement of some 2 lakh suits in first phase, not only the Ballistic vest they also need weightless ballistic helmets, where the current Vests and Helmets could not save the soldiers lives in combat when they get shot by enemy's 7.62mm bullets fired from AK 47 series. Due to it's heavy weight, carrying the BFJ gradually decrease the Mobility of the Soldiers. more over most of the time the Regiment's special forces wear only outdated BFJ's and Helmets.

        Here also the MKU leads the 2012 tender and yet to get orders from Defense ministry. Earlier MKU and DRDO signs a R&D contract to  increase  the Vests performance. The results are impressive. The current Vests has over weight can't give protection to neck, chest, groin and sides of the soldiers body, while it gives protection only for chest. Also it can't stop bullets fired from Assault rifles round like 5.56 mm and 7.62 coming from Pakistani G3 and AK 47 series of Assault Rifle's

       Also it's hard to stop such bigger caliber 7.62 mm Bullets in close range, but the new generation Ballistic Vests can stop the 7.62 mm bullets fired from far than 30 feet. there is no BFJ in the world who can stop the 7.62mm rounds in such close ranges.Also the new vest gradually increase the protection area's like neck, chest, groin and sides of the soldiers body. It's also comes with lesser weight and customized for carrying bullets cartridge an Grenades, due to lesser weight it can increase the soldiers performance and mobility, also it can give full protection from Knife ambushes too.

       Even if the defense ministry signed the deal with any of the Indian private firm, it almost took another two years to complete the order, also It's suspected that Ministry will float another fresh tender to acquire BFJ's likely to take more than three years to complete the orders, even if all of these will be done in fast track mode. so it's another hard time for the Indian Soldiers.