Indian Army arming its soldiers with better ballistic helmets

New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): The Indian Army is arming its soldiers with a better helmets. These 'Ballistic Helmets' are much lighter and comfortable. The manufacturer is MKU India Pvt Ltd. So far, 7500 helmets have been received in the first lot, out of which, 2500 have been issued to soldiers on United Nations deployment. A further 6000 helmets are a undergoing ballistic tests, an army statement said, adding that these helmets are going to save soldiers from bullets of upto 9mm range from as close as 20 meters. The statement further said that these helmets will help the soldiers in quick movement due to their light weight while providing a better safety. In the first lot, total procurement of 1, 58, 279 of these helmets will be done for the use of the Army and Navy and UN soldiers. These will be of two types, normal ballistic helmets and the command ballistic helmets. The command helmets will be compatible to put the a hands free communication set. The old helmets did not have such facility and protection. The Navy will get 13, 981 ballistic helmets out of the total requisition. The army has said that it is going to issue these to soldiers deployed on the Line of Control (LC), Line of Actual Control (LAC) and to personnel involved in counter insurgency, and counter terrorism operations. Ballistic proofing is being done at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL). Thirty thousand helmets will be received by September this year and entire procurement will be acquired in two years. In total there is requirement of 3, 28, 214 helmets. (ANI)