Soon Indian Army deployed in the Siachen glacier – the world’s most dangerous battlefield will have specialized clothing, sleeping kits and key equipments. Final touches are being given to this long pending project
An expenditure of about Rs. 800 crore annually is made by India to import of Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) and mountaineering kits for soldiers guarding the glacier at the heights ranging from 16,000 feet to 20,000 feet, according to official data.
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Currently these are sourced from countries like the US, Australia, Canada and Switzerland and by indigenous production one can save about 300 crores annually.
“We have almost finalised the project under which a large number of items required for troops deployed in Siachen Glacier will be manufactured in India through involvement of the private sector,” said a source.
Thermal insoles, snow goggles, ice axe, boots, avalanche victim detector, rock pitons, karabiner-related mountaineering equipment and sleeping bags will soon be made in India, the sources said.
Some of the clothing gear, to be manufactured in India, will also be supplied to army personnel deployed in high-altitude locations like Doklam along the treacherous Sino-India border, it said.
The NDA government has been extensively focusing on ensuring indigenous production of military equipment and platforms under its Make in India initiative.