Army developing smart collars and bulletproof vests to protect military dogs

With military dogs being regularly employed in counter-terrorist operations as well as disaster relief missions, the Army is developing new protective devices like bulletproof vests and smart collars for its canine warriors that would help mitigate casualties.

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Operational deployment exposes the dogs to extreme weather conditions, strenuous physical exertion and toxic environment, which can result in heat stress, fatigue, respiratory disorders and cardiac health issues.

A smart collar would monitor the dogs’ physical parameters such as body temperature, pulse, respiration, heart rate variability and calorie expenditure, just like a smart watch or similar wearables used by humans, and alert the handler in case of any abnormality, an officer with the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) said.

At present, dog handlers rely on their judgment and experience to assess the health of the dog. At times, abnormal symptoms may not be visible, the handlers’ response may be delayed due to ongoing operations or be inaccurate, he added.

A light, modular bulletproof vest for dogs is also on the drawing board, which would offer protection to the torso against bullets and splinters during anti-terrorist operations or patrolling in high threat perception areas like the Line of Control.

A limited number of imported bulletproof vests have been procured, but these are heavy and costly. The Army wants vests that weigh less than 2 kg so that the dogs’ movements, agility and effectiveness are not hampered.

Over the past few years, several canine warriors have fallen to bullets while taking part in search operations, house clearing missions or neutralising terrorists, and in the process saved the lives of their fellow soldiers. Some of them have also been decorated for gallantry.

Dogs have been an integral part of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and other law enforcement agencies for decades. Undertaking guard duties, patrolling, assaulting and neutralising suspects, VIP security, sniffing out explosives and mine detecting contraband items, search and rescue, are among the roles they undertake. They have also served overseas with Indian troops.

Dogs, which have been critical to the success of many military operations, are considered as force multipliers. Besides their ability to detect hostile elements, they are able to get into places difficult to access by humans, and when equipped with cameras, also provide valuable tactical intelligence. Their relatively smaller size and faster speed make them a difficult target.

RVC officers say that the project to develop indigenous protective gear for dogs would also benefit other agencies in the country like the paramilitary forces, which are also using dogs in high stress operations like counter-terrorism, bomb detection, border guarding and VVIP protection.