Indian Army gets first batch of modern bullet-proof helmets

The Indian Army reportedly received its first batch of bullet-proof helmets from Kanpur-based MKU Industries.

The MKU Industries, which supplies military equipment to the United Nations and NATO, was awarded a contract to manufacture 1.58 lakh helmets at the cost of Rs 180 crore.

Indian Army has ordered the bolted version of bolt-free ballistic helmets. Bolt-free is a higher and expensive version of bullet-proof helmets, which gives all-round protection from head injuries.

Key highlights of the helmets

• The MKU Industries claims that the bullet-proof helmets go through rigorous quality tests and ballistic lab test conducted at its testing facilities in India as well as in Germany.

• The helmets are reportedly designed to bear the impact of 9 mm ammunition fired from a short range.

• They match global standards of equipment for armed forces.

• The bullet-proof helmet has the main protective layer of Kevlar, which has high tensile strength-to-weight ratio; by this measure it is 5 times stronger than steel.

• They are also designed to be comfortable and can be integrated with communication and night-vision devices.

About MKU Industries

• MKU Industries is an Indian defence company headquartered in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

• It manufactures protection and surveillance range of equipment and solutions, including ballistic helmets, armour inserts, bulletproof vests, and electro-optical devices like night vision binoculars and monoculars.

• It was set up in 1985 in response to a need to build fibre-reinforced plastic products for the Indian Army.

• At present, it provides protection to over 2 million soldiers and 2000 platforms.