BARC develops cheaper, lightweight bulletproof jackets

BARC develops cheaper, lightweight bulletproof jackets

Context

Bhabha Kavach

What has happened?

The Bhabha Atomic Reseach Centre (BARC) has developed a next-generation bulletproof jacket for the Indian armed forces, which is not only cheaper but also much lighter.

Bhabha Kavach

• Bhabha Kavach, named after nuclear physicist Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, the jacket was developed at BARC’s Trombay centre in response to a request from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs
• The jacket weighs just 6.6 kg in comparison to the 17-kg jackets in use, and has passed over 30 tests carried out by certified agencies
• Bhabha Kavach is available in three variants as per the requirement of the armed forces
• The jacket is made using extremely hard boron carbide ceramics that is hot-pressed with carbon nano-tubes and composite polymer
• BARC has been using boron carbide in the control rods of its nuclear reactors
• Bhabha Kavach has been designed to protect our soldiers against AK-47 (hard steel bullets), SLR and INSUS weaponry

Undergoing tests

• Tested by a joint team of the CRPF, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the Central Industrial Security Force
• The northern command of the Indian Army is also testing a variant of the jacket in Jammu and Kashmir.

Cost

The cost of a Bhabha Kavach is Rs. 70,000, jackets of similar strength are available in the range of Rs. 1.5 lakh and have to be imported

What now?

BARC is looking at bring down the cost to under Rs. 35,000 and make it even more lighter