Hard Armor Levels
Armor Levels
Level IV | Level III++ | Level III+ | Level IIIA | Standards
LEVEL IV HARD ARMOR
NIJ standards require 2 drops. These plates must pass the internal 10 drop test and are inspected via X-Ray prior to environmental and ballistic testing.
The materials used in the fabrication of these plates allows for projectiles to be absorbed within the plate itself, preventing dangerous spall as is common with steel plates. Don’t rely on your carrier to stop high speed bullet fragmentation.
All our Hard Armor Plates are Made in the USA by LTC, Leading Technology Composites, the worlds largest and most respected body armor manufacturer.
Specific weights and sizes are listed below. All figures are nominal. Some variation based on manufacturing tolerance may apply.
Rounds Defeated
| Weapon | Ammunition | STRIKINGVELOCITYft/s | STRIKINGVELOCITYm/s |
| Rifle M-1 | 30.06 AP M2 | 2880 | 878 |
| Rifle FN FAL | 7.62x51mm – M80 Ball | 2780 | 847 |
| Rifle FN FAL | 7.62x51mm – M61 AP | 2780 | 847 |
| Rifle M-16/AR-15 | 5.56x45mm-M193/M855/M855A1 | 3180 | 969 |
| Rifle SVD,Dragunov M.G.-PKM | 7.62x54R-LPS | 2850 | 869 |
| Rifle SVD,Dragunov M.G.-PKM | 7.62x54R-L/LPS/B-32 API | 2850 | 869 |
| Rifle AK-47,M,SKS | 7.62x39mm-API | 2400 | 732 |
| Rifle AK-47,M,SKS | 7.62x39mm-Ball/Steel Core | 2400 | 732 |
LEVEL III++ HARD ARMOR
Single curve NIJ Certified Level III plates are manufactured from Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and are capable of stopping steel core M1943 ammunition in addition to 5.56 ball and .308
All our Hard Armor Plates are Made in the USA by LTC, Leading Technology Composites, the worlds largest and most respected body armor manufacturer.
Specific weights and sizes are listed below. All figures are nominal. Some variation based on manufacturing tolerance may apply.
MATERIALS
- Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
- Covered in black Cordura
ROUNDS DEFEATED
| Weapon | Ammunition | STRIKING VELOCITY ft/s | STRIKING VELOCITY MS |
| Rifle FN FAL | 7.62x51mm-M-80Ball | 2780 | 847 |
| RifleAK-47 | 7.62x39mm-M1943PSBall | 2380 | 725 |
| RifleAK-47 | 7.62x39mm-FMJLeadCoreBall | 2380 | 725 |
| RifleM-16 | 5.56x45mm-M193Ball | 3180 | 969 |
Level III+ Hard Armor
Single curve NIJ Certified Level III plates are manufactured from Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and are capable of stopping steel core M1943 ammunition in addition to 5.56 ball and .308
All our Hard Armor Plates are Made in the USA by LTC, Leading Technology Composites, the worlds largest and most respected body armor manufacturer.
Specific weights and sizes are listed below. All figures are nominal. Some variation based on manufacturing tolerance may apply.
Materials
- Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
- Covered in black Cordura
Rounds Defeated
| Weapon | Ammunition | STRIKING VELOCITY ft/s | STRIKING VELOCITY MS |
| Rifle FN FAL | 7.62x51mm-M-80Ball | 2780 | 847 |
| RifleAK-47 | 7.62x39mm-M1943PSBall | 2380 | 725 |
| RifleAK-47 | 7.62x39mm-FMJLeadCoreBall | 2380 | 725 |
| RifleM-16 | 5.56x45mm-M193Ball | 3180 | 969 |
Level IIIA Hard Armor
Level IIIA Hard Armor plates provide significant injury reduction as compared to soft armor of the same level due to minimized backface deformation. Hard Armor plates are also much easier to wear concealed as they conform better to the body, which greatly improves long term wearability.
All our Hard Armor Plates are Made in the USA by LTC, Leading Technology Composites, the worlds largest and most respected body armor manufacturer.
Specific weights and sizes are listed below. All figures are nominal. Some variation based on manufacturing tolerance may apply.
Rounds Defeated
| Weapon | Ammunition | STRIKING VELOCITYft/s | STRIKING VELOCITYm/s |
| 9mm | 50-grain USM4 | 2490 | 759 |
| 9mm | Fiocchi, 115-grain FMJ | 1540 | 469 |
| 9mm | 124-grain Hydra-Shok JHP | 1230 | 375 |
| 9mm | 124-grain FMJ | 1425 | 434 |
| 9mm | 124-grain FMJ Steel | 1262 | 385 |
| .357 | 100-grain Frangible SF | 1774 | 533 |
| .357 | 115-grain JHP | 1645 | 501 |
| .357 | 125-grain SIG FMJ FN | 1475 | 450 |
| .357 | 125-grain GDHP | 1454 | 443 |
| .40-cal | 95-grain S&W HP | 1697 | 517 |
| .40-cal | 15-grain S&W JHP | 1249 | 381 |
| .40-cal | 180-grain S&W JHP | 1098 | 35 |
| .44 Magnum | 240-grain SJHP | 1412 | 430 |
| 5.7 x 28mm | 27-grain SS195 LFHP | 2347 | 715 |
| 7.62 x 25mm | TOKAREV SJLC | 1684 | 513 |
| .30-cal. | 110-grain FMJ | 2097 | 639 |
| *12-Gauge | 2-3/4″in mag., 1 oz. Slug | 1171 | 357 |
Body Armor Performance Standards
NIJ has been setting voluntary body armor standards since 1972. The NIJ standard is the only nationally accepted standard for the body armor worn by law enforcement and corrections officers. NIJ also administers a program to test commercially available armor for compliance with the standards to determine whether the vests meet NIJ’s minimum performance standards.
The NIJ ballistic resistance standard classifies body armor by levels of ballistic performance. For any performance level, NIJ’s test protocol requires that the bullet does not perforate the vest and that the vest protects against blunt trauma.
NIJ’s stab resistance body armor standard specifies the minimum performance requirements for body armor to protect the torso against slashes and stabs from knives and spikes; it also describes the associated testing procedures. The standard includes three performance levels, which are based on the armor’s ability to prevent a perforation deep enough to injure an officer’s internal organs at different strike force speeds. The standard also includes two protection classes: one for high-quality, commercially produced knives and another for lower-quality knife blades and improvised spikes that are likely to be present in a corrections environment.
National Institute of Justice, ” Body Armor Performance Standards ,” February 22, 2018, nij.ojp.gov:
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/body-armor-performance-standards
