Army makes bulletproof plan for border with modular bunkers

NEW DELHI: The Army has begun its search for Lego-like modular, portable, bullet and blast-proof bunkers to replace stone-mud-log and steel shelters as it secures the nation’s frontiers against China and Pakistan. The security revamp also includes standardising bulletproof material for all applications, including that for designing jackets and vehicles.

Besides maximising the use of technology to enhance operational efficiency, this is a way being taken the Army to adopt homegrown solutions rather than fine-tune foreign equipment as per local requirements.

BUNKER WITH LIGHT-WEIGHT MATERIAL

The Army is currently using two types of bunkers: One, constructed using material such as stones, mud and logs. The longevity of these bunkers is a problem because they collapse under enemy fire and are vulnerable to vagaries of weather. Two, steel bunkers constructed by ferrying material that are cumbersome to carry to high-altitude areas. They also need large manpower for construction and maintenance and don’t provide flexible loopholes for firing weapons.

The Army has raised these issues in its Compendium of Problem Statements. It has asked for solutions for having a light -weight composite material for bunkers, which can withstand enemy fire, extreme weather and requires the least amount of manpower for construction

The Army wants composite material in the form of panels and balis which being lightweight can be easily carried up mountains and like ‘Lego toys’, be quickly setup into bunkers, said an official.

The Army also wants bunkers to be modular in nature to allow it to easily adjust the direction of fire.

Recently, Coimbatore-based Amrita University offered a composite material made of hollow steel and filled with plywood to withstand blasts. Although, there is no word on it being bulletproof, there are plans to take up the project as a research model, explained the official.

The material gains importance in the light of the regular ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC and the terrorist attacks on military bases in J&K. It is also equally important for areas along the LAC to provide adequate protection from the weather and possible conflict.

STANDARDISING BULLETPROOF MATERIAL
The Army is also looking at procuring lightweight, bulletproof and blastproof material for multi-purpose application, including for making jackets, vehicles and buildings. “It is standardising bulletproof material and will replace the existing bulletproof material after their lifecycle is over,” said an official.

The project will be brought under the Defence Ministry’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) that funds firm and academia to develop a prototype of the desired equipment. The TDF’s apex committee, comprising the vice chiefs of the three defence services, will soon clear the project to a private firm and an academia to develop a prototype.