CCS clears purchase of bullet-proof jackets for paramilitary forces

Under its modernisation plan, the Home Ministry had floated tenders in 2004 for 65,000 bullet-proof vests for central paramilitary forces at a cost of Rs 52 crore. But it got bogged down in bureaucratic red tape due to quality and delivery issues. Home Minister P Chidambaram had pushed for a re-look at the proposal considering the time and cost delay, sources said.

While the traditional vests manufactured at ordinance factories have steel plates that can take an AK-47 bullet shot from 10 metres, they weigh nearly 10 kg and restrict the pace of its wearer. A lightweight vest cuts the burden into half and can take close range shots from the AK-47.

The CCS, which met for more than two hours, is learnt to have also approved the import of surface-to-air Spyder missile from Israel and the manufacture of Akash, a medium-range SAM developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation in the wake of threats of a possible 9/11-like attack on Indian installations.

While Spyder is a low-level quick reaction missile with effective range of 15 km, Akash can target aircraft 30 km away, at altitudes up to 15,000 metres. Import of Spyder would be followed with its indigenisation through a joint venture project between Israel defence contractors and DRDO, sources said.