Defence Ministry clears first project under Indo-US DTTI

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Defence Ministry clears first project under Indo-US DTTI

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20 May, 2015, 0400 hrs IST, Manu Pubby, ET Bureau

Sources said that the clearance of a plan to acquire chemical and biological resistant clothing is part of the army’s modernization plans for the current five-year plan.
NEW DELHI: Ahead of a visit by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, South Block has cleared a proposal that could kick start the first joint defence development project between the two nations for new, lightweight, protective clothing for soldiers.

Announced as one of the four pathfinders under the Defence Tradeand Technology Initiative (DTTI), which seeks to co-develop military equipment, the project for the army is said to have been given a quiet go-ahead by the defence ministry earlier this month.

Though the initial amount granted for the project is low - just under Rs 300 crore - it has the potential of getting much larger given that protective clothing for the entire Indian army is being planned. Sources said that the clearance of a plan to acquire chemical and biological resistant clothing is part of the army's modernization plans for the current five-year plan.

Under DTTI, the project is being called Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble - Increment 2 (UIPE I2), and will see US companies collaborating with an Indian partner for the new-generation clothing for soldiers. The Indian partner is likely to be a state-owned unit but a private partner has not been ruled out yet.

Defence Ministry clears first project under Indo-US DTTI - The Economic Times