Protective Clothing Sale To India Evidence of Growing Ties

The sale of high-tech chemical protective clothing worth USD 75 million by the US to India which will protect Indian soldiers against biological and chemical warfare reflects growing bilateral defence relationship, an official here said.

For the first time, the Pentagon has notified to the Congress about the sale of Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) protective clothing, which when used with the chemical protective mask would be able to protect an Indian soldier from any kind of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare.

Developed by all four defence services to provide a common protective suit, JSLIST clothing includes the suit, boots and gloves and can be worn for up to 24 hours in contaminated areas.

The JSLIST consists of 38,034 units each: suits, pairs of trousers, pairs of gloves, pairs of boots and NBC bags; 854 aprons; 854 alternative aprons; 9,509 Quick Doff Hoods; and 114,102 M61 filters.

The entire package also includes 38,034 M50 general purpose masks.

“This is the first instance of a sale of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) Support Equipment being notified to Congress,” a State Department official told