New lightweight bulletproof jackets developed to enhance soldier safety

Aiming to ensure the safety of soldiers and minimise the risk of casualties during military engagements, the defence equipment manufacturers have developed lightweight bulletproof jackets known as ABHED (Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat).
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, has developed two types of ABHED bulletproof jackets, officials said on Wednesday.
The jackets developed at the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi, are capable of mitigating the highest threat levels and are lighter than the maximum weight limits stipulated for the Army, according to the officials.
With a minimum possible weight of 8 kg and 9.3 kg for different BIS levels, these modular-design jackets, featuring front and rear armour, provide 360-degree 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 characterisation of various materials at high strain rates, followed by appropriate modelling and simulation in collaboration with the DRDO, officials added.
The armour plates for the jackets have passed all necessary research and experimental development (R&D) trials according to the protocols.
The salient features of these jackets include modular configurations and 360-degree protection, with a total protection area of 3,400 square centimetres. It consists of rigid Hard Armour Panels (HAP), flexible Soft Armour Panels (SAP), 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.