In a first, the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) has developed bulletproof jackets which have been made from advanced ceramics and advanced nanocomposites and weigh lighter than the bulletproof vests currently used by the Indian Armed Forces. The Mumbai-made ballistic body armour will protect jawans in Jammu and Kashmir and is currently being tried by the northern command of the Indian Army. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs had approached BARC to develop bulletproof vests of higher quality at low cost. The five-member research team of BARC scientists developed the bulletproof vests in a span of one year between 2015 and 2016. Bhabha Kavach, which weighs 6.6 kg, provides protection from AK-47 (hard steel core bullets), Self Loading Rifle and INSAS rifle. While a standalone Bhabha Kavach weighs 3.5kg. "These vests are made of Boron Carbide, a ceramic which is lighter and more effective as it shatters the bullet. These vests are multi-strike armor which have been tested by us with 30 different tests and has now been given to the Central Armed Forced for feedback," said a BARC official. "Currently 30 such jackets have been distributed by us and the machinery used to develop these jackets have been already transferred to defence industry for large-scale production," said the official. Dr Kinshuk Dasgupta the scientific officer of BARC, said, "The bulletproof vests which we have designed and developed are of higher quality and also it is a Make in India product. Currently, the vests are being imported and weigh 10kg and our jackets were tested and cleared by the certified agencies." "The large-scale production of the jackets will save the government exchequer precious foreign exchange. The manufacturing of this vests cost us around Rs 70,000 which is much cheaper than the imported vests. Also, we are trying to bring down the costs of these products to make it cheaper and lighter but more effective," said Dasgupta.

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