Troop Comforts Limited (TCL), a government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, has signed an MoU with the country’s leading research institution IIT Delhi to develop smart protective clothing for the Indian Security Forces. The TCL Group produces Troop Comfort Items for defence and paramilitary forces and has 4 factories in the country.

Under the MoU, IIT Delhi and TCL will work in the area of research and development of garments and equipment for the security personnel deployed in high-altitude areas like Siachen Glacier, clothing for protection from ballistic weapons and development of sensor fitted garments, the two entities said in a media release.

All the four TCL factories depending upon their requirements will assign projects to IIT Delhi for research and innovation. The scope of the collaboration will cover all the new fields including application of smart textiles to defence applications, integration of artificial intelligence in Troop Comfort Items and development of futuristic infantry solider as a system (integration of telecommunication & health monitoring device).

Both organisations will constitute a Joint Working Group (JWG) to facilitate the initiation of the collaborative projects.

“Under the self-reliant India mission, this MoU with IIT Delhi will prove to be a milestone in the direction of making the country’s security forces empowered and modern,” said S K Sinha, CMD, TCL.

“IIT Delhi’s Textile and Fibre Engineering Department is well-known for innovations in the area of smart textiles. It’s privilege for us to support our security forces through this MoU with TCL,” said prof Sunil Kumar Khare, Dean R&D, IIT Delhi.

The TCL Group, which is undergoing transformation as per the recent policies of the government, is aiming to be a complete integral solution provider for the forces’ requirements. The government-run firm is aiming to switch over from conventional items to technology driven items catering to the security forces as well as civil market.