India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over technology used to produce extreme cold weather clothing for the Indian armed forces to five local defense companies for manufacture and export to other countries.
The three-layered clothing system provides thermal insulation for soldiers deployed in the Himalayas, where temperatures dip to -50 degrees Celsius (-58F).
With an ergonomic design, the clothing offers improved insulation required for cold weather extremes.
According to the DRDO, the system was engineered to reduce respiratory heat and water loss, providing waterproof and windproof protection while ensuring breathability for wearers.
The extreme cold weather clothing system is also designed to provide the improved strength required for high-altitude operations.
Need for Indigenous Equipment
The DRDO explained that special military equipment such as the extreme cold weather clothing system provides a tactical advantage for soldiers considering the “widely fluctuating” weather conditions in the Himalayas.
With local production set to begin, the Indian Army is expected to reduce imports of extreme cold weather clothing and other equipment for troops deployed in high-altitude regions.
DRDO Chairman Satheesh Reddy also remarked that there is a need to develop an indigenous industrial base for special clothing and mountaineering equipment to meet the requirements of the Indian army and bolster the country’s export potential.
