Body armor plates

Body armor plates are an essential piece of tactical equipment for military and law enforcement personnel. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to body armor: your average patrolman does not require the same protection as a soldier on an anti-terrorist mission. To ensure that you get the protection that you need, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has developed a system of threat levels ranging from Level IIA – Level IV. 

Body armor levels

Each of the NIJ’s threat levels corresponds to a particular ballistic threat. The higher the level, the stronger the armored plate’s stopping capability. We will explore the different levels in more detail below, but first we should outline some other factors to bear in mind:

• Weight: a suit of armor offers much greater protection than a t-shirt and jeans, but it is much heavier. The same goes for armored plates. The higher the protection level, the heavier the plate. For example, an 11×14 Level IV plate weighs 8 lbs., whereas an 11×14 Level IIIA armored plate weighs just 1.5 lbs. 
• Price: correspondingly, the higher the protection level, the more expensive the body armor. An armored plate intended for everyday police use does not have the same price-tag as a cutting-edge bulletproof plate for special military forces: a Level IIIA vest plate costs less than $60, whereas a similar Level IV armor plate costs $205. 

With that said, let’s look some common protection levels of plated body armor.

Level IIIA armor plates

Level IIIA armor (also known as 3A) offers the highest protection of any soft armor plate and protects against 9mm FMJ and .44 Magnum rounds. Because of their low weight, plates of Level IIIA classification are suitable not just for police officers but also for civilians. Level IIIA armor is known for its versatility: flexible plates are ideal for bulletproof blankets or bulletproof backpacks, and hard plates are comfortable to wear on a daily basis under clothes. Some manufacturers also produce Level IIIA+ vests. This is not a certified NIJ level, but it indicates that the armor plate withstands a slightly wider range of ballistic threats, including shotgun rounds. 

Plate level 3

The next NIJ category is Level 3 (also known as Level III). Level III hard armor plates are specially engineered to withstand multiple hits from MSC AK-47 7.62x39mm, M80 7.62x51mm, and M193 5.56mm ammunition. This advanced level of protection makes them perfect for military and police officers. The one downside of plate Level 3 armor is its weight. A Level IIIA soft plate weighs 2.5 lbs. less than a Level III plate of the same size, which makes a big impact if you’re wearing your armor for an extended period of time.

You can also purchase Level III+ (3+) body armor plates. Like IIIA+ plates, these bridge the gap between two levels. They can withstand multiple hits from Green Tip M855 5.56mm 62gr, 7.62x39mm 12gr ball, and M80 7.62mm 149gr rounds, on top of all Level III threats. Level 3+ is not an official NIJ category; however, the NIJ has recognised the gap between Levels III and IV, and its new body armor standard includes threat level “RF2” (between RF1/Level 3 and RF3/Level 4).

Level 4 plates

Finally, we have Level IV plated body armor. This is the highest level of protection on the market, is made from the strongest and most advanced materials, and can withstand 30 caliber armor piercing M2 and 5.56mm M855 ammunition. The gold-standard of body armor, Level 4 plates are worn by soldiers and SWAT Team members. As we mentioned, these armor plates are extremely heavy. They are not recommended for prolonged use by law enforcement officers and are unsuitable for everyday civilian wear. If that’s what you need, then Level III or Level IIIA armor would serve you better. 

Purchase body armor plates

To sum up, choosing a level of plated body armor depends on how and where you need to wear it. For everyday use in mildly dangerous settings, Level IIIA soft armor would be a great choice. For highly dangerous military operations, Level IV plates can save your life. Take a look at our tactical shop or contact one of our specialists today for advice.