Former defence minister and Goa chief minister, Manohar Parrikar, on Saturday said that trials for introducing air-conditioned jackets for the Indian Special Forces soldiers are currently underway.
The government is testing ‘air-conditioned’ jackets to be worn by special force soldiers who operate for long hours in hot areas. However, the government has not stated what materials would the jackets be made of or what technology will be applied to manufacture these jackets.
“In a Special Forces operation, there is extensive exercise. The body heats up, he (soldier) is very uncomfortable. At that time if he has an air conditioned jacket, he is more comfortable. The trial is on,” Parrikar said to students in Panaji late on Saturday.
Speaking about the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (LCT), he said the only weak-point of the LCA Tejas was that it was a light plane and could carry a payload of only 3.5 ton. He added that he had diligently pursued the LCA project.
“It was completed some 5-6 years (ago) but the government was not inducting it. Minor issues were there. I consecutively conducted 18 meetings and saw to it that it is inducted in the Air Force… Now there are three planes and one new aircraft is getting added up every one or two months,” Parrikar stated.
“It is indigenously designed and I can tell you the plane has many features that are better than many of the world-renowned planes. Its only defect is that it is light-weight. It can carry only a 3.5 ton bomb… It is the only weak-point. Otherwise the capacity of the plane, its reaction is better than many quality planes,” he added.
These jackets are already used by the US Army, which is worn underneath body armour, which provides cooling to soldiers.
