Article Posted on : - May 14, 2012

KANPUR (PTI): Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) has developed a special bullet proof jacket which can absorb the impact of "Kirkee" - the most powerful bullet fired from an AK-47 rifle.

A rigorous test of the bullet proof jacket has already been conducted in the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory at Chandigarh and it also cleared the parameters created by the Army under the General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) 1318, Director of DMSRDE Arvind Kumar Saxena told reporters here Friday.

The special bullet proof vest has been sent to the Army for further tests and after getting the final clearance it would be ready for supply, Saxena added.

Weighing over 10kg, each jacket is priced in the range of Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000."Till date the bullet proof vests available in the country can withstand the "normal" bullet fired by an AK-47, pistol or rifle," he said.

Saxena remarked, "Defence ministry had asked us to manufacture a bullet proof jacket which could absorb the pressure of powerful "Kirkee" bullet fired from an AK-47 and projectiles of an INSAS rifle."

Based on the inputs, the DMSRDE manufactured the special bullet proof jacket, he said, adding that the vest also covers the neck region.

"The help of a Panvel-based firm S M Pulp, involved in manufacturing defence material, was taken in the making of the bullet proof jacket, but it was developed at DMSRDE and the quality control tests were performed by scientists here," he added.

DMSRDE, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, is responsible for research and development of material for the military services, including various types of protective clothing and equipment.