The Army continues to operate with only half of the 3.5 lakh bulletproof jackets it needs.
Army will soon issue a new tender for procuring over 1.3 lakh bulletproof vests, a requirement much needed by soldiers since 2009.
Defence sources said the tender would be issued for capital procurement of over 1.36 lakh bulletproof jackets.
The government had in October last withdrawn a 2009 tender for procurement of over 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets for the Army after the item fielded by the vendor failed the trials.
The government has already allotted a contract to an Indian private firm for 50,000 bulletproof jackets under the emergency clause after the issue was taken up by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikkar.