Army hunting for ballastic shields:Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Army hunting for ballistic shields :
Vijay MohanTribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 16To provide enhanced protection to its
troops engaged in counterterrorism operations in confined
areas in the northern sector, the Army is seeking hand-held
ballistic shields. These would protect troops from the effects
of small arms fire and \limited blasts while clearing built up
areas.
The Army has already floated a request for information for the
supplyof an initial batch of 32 such shields, each of which
would be about three feet long, weigh about 10 kg and shield
user’s face and body while offering wide visibility, maneuverability
and tactical advantage. The Army wants the shields to conform to
NIJ-0108.01 standards for level-IIIA threats, which is the standard
US government specification for ballistic shields that offer
protection against pistoland sub-machinegun ammunition.
Besides having a bulletproof window offering a wide-angle forward
view, the shields would also be having a LED headlight that would
serve the dual purpose of illuminating the area ahead as well as
blinding potential adversaries. According to experts, such shields
provide ballistic protection to assault teams during dynamic entry
situations and approaches towards potentially armed individuals.
These offer enhanced protection as bulletproof jackets and helmets
protect only the head and the chest, leaving the face, neck, lower
body and limbs vulnerable to fire and blasts. Ballistic shields are
also invaluable in situations where there is little or no cover. In
the backdrop of recent terrorist situations and suicidal attacks,
ballistic shields are becoming standard equipment for law
enforcement agencies when approaching potentially armed
suspects in public areas.
And as part of improving security of its complexes in Jammu and
Kashmir, the Army is also in the process of acquiring high-speed
barriers to stop hostile speeding vehicles crashing through the
perimeter.
The Army is hunting for barriers that can be activated remotely
and have a power backup in case of electricity failure. Significantly,
these would also have a sensor detection system so that the gate
operates automatically on detection of a unique security sensor
installed on vehicles. These sensors would be issued in a controlled
manner and also held reduce stress levels of troops on guard duty, besides
giving them added advantage and safeguards.