SOURCE: AFI
In a significant step toward enhancing the safety and operational effectiveness of its frontline troops, the Indian Army has awarded contracts worth ?300 crore ($35 million) to Delhi-based SMPP Pvt. Ltd. for the supply of 27,700 bulletproof jackets and 11,700 advanced ballistic helmets. The contracts, finalized on June 22, 2025, under the Emergency Procurement Procedure 5 (EP-5), underscore India’s commitment to equipping its soldiers with cutting-edge protective gear amid evolving security challenges, particularly in counter-terrorism operations along the Line of Control (LoC) and in insurgency-prone regions.
SMPP Pvt. Ltd., a leading indigenous manufacturer of defense equipment, has been entrusted with delivering state-of-the-art personal protection gear to the Indian Army. The bulletproof jackets, designed with advanced features like dynamic load distribution and quick-release systems, provide 360-degree protection against lethal armor-piercing bullets, including 7.62×39mm hard steel core ammunition. These jackets utilize boron carbide ceramic, one of the lightest materials for ballistic protection, ensuring optimal mobility and comfort for soldiers in diverse combat scenarios, from long-distance patrolling to high-risk room interventions.
The advanced ballistic helmets, described as a world-first by SMPP, offer protection against AK-47-fired hard steel core rounds, a significant upgrade over previous models. This capability is critical for troops operating in hostile environments, where small arms fire and shrapnel pose constant threats. According to Shiv Chand Kansal, Chairman and Managing Director of SMPP, the company’s motto, “protect those who protect us,” drives its mission to deliver advanced technological solutions. “With this new contract, SMPP has once again shown beyond doubt to be better than the best and true to its motto,” Kansal stated.
The contracts are part of the Indian Army’s broader effort to modernize its counter-terrorism capabilities, spurred by the operational lessons from Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. The operation, a retaliatory strike against terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighted the need for high-mobility, high-protection gear to enhance troop survivability in hostile terrain. The Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism, introduced after the 2016 Uri attacks, allows the armed forces to bypass lengthy procurement processes to address urgent operational gaps.
The ?300 crore contracts are part of a larger ?1,981.90 crore EP-5 package, which includes 13 contracts for equipment such as drones, low-level lightweight radars, and very short-range air defense systems (VSHORADS). The EP route, sanctioned with a ?2,000 crore outlay, reflects the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to rapidly equipping the Army with indigenous, mission-critical systems. The urgency of these procurements is driven by the need to counter Pakistan-backed terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and address emerging threats along India’s borders.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.