Our EnGarde® armor inserts are designed to be used in conjunction with soft armor panels for maximum protection. An NIJ IIIA panel is very capable but soft armor by itself is no match for assault rifles and armor piercing ammunition. To meet the kind of threats faced in war zones and terrorist incidents, hard armor is required.
This advanced hard armor insert provides NIJ Level III protection. In addition the rifle plate stops AK-47 MSC rounds and is very suitable for long gun threat environments.
This plate has an enormous stopping power, including protection against high-powered, armor-piercing rounds.
Our HEAD-PRO™ helmet has been developed to match the needs of law enforcement and military personnel as well as journalists and NGO personnel.
For protection from rifle rounds, such as 7.62×39 AK-47 MSC and .30 M2 AP you will need level III or IV armor plates. The higher velocity that these long gun rounds generate is one of the main reasons that those projectiles easily defeat soft armor panels.
To stop high-powered rifle rounds, body armor manufacturers have developed ceramic and metal plates that fit in front of a standard body armor panel. Armor panels are normally used in pairs and are placed in the front and back pocket of a vest to protect vital organs. The ballistic coverage of the hard ballistic panels is smaller in comparison to the soft armor panels. The smaller size is mainly due to the weight of armor inserts and the fact that armor inserts are not flexible. A vest with full hard ballistic body coverage would be very uncomfortable to wear during longer periods.
The main difference between Level III and Level IV plates is that Level IV plates stop armor-piercing rounds. Level III armor is not rated for armor-piercing ammunition.
In order to stop armor-piercing rounds, ceramics or metal is used in the construction of the plates. This makes Level IV plates heavier than Level III plates.
Our TUFF-PRO-LW™ ballistic armor series are made with pressed Dyneema® resulting in a durable and very lightweight Level III solution. The positive buoyancy of the TUFF-PRO-LW™ plates provides users in in maritime or waterborne environments added flotation support. One TUFF-PRO-LW™ plate weighs just 1.25 kg (2.7 lbs).
The TUFF-PRO-HD™ ballistic plate is a very robust plate that offers a Level IV protection in combination with a Level IIIA vest. The TUFF-PRO-HD™ plate has been rigorously tested by NIJ approved test laboratories. Occasionally we send our armor to independent third parties that subject them to brutal testing that goes far beyond their rated capacity.
BUFFMAN – R.A.N.G.E. (video)
SPARTANC81 (video)
Armor plates are designed to provide protection from high-powered and armor-piercing rifle rounds. The metal and ceramic components of the Level IV strike plates provide an extra layer of protection from armor-piercing ammunition. If you have any questions about threat protection levels or configuring body armor for a specific threat environment, don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable staff. We will be happy to work with you to choose your ideal armor solution.