Levels of Body Armor Protection from AR500 Armor

Learn about the different body armor protection levels from AR500 Armor of the Armored Republic. Wanting to know what body armor will protect against? What is the most protective armor plate? Or unsure of what body armor is right for you? Then read below for further details. Learn about the Armored Republic's Body Armor Matrix and take a look at our Body Armor 101 page which will provide body armor basics and answers to commonly asked questions. 

• Pistol Rated
  • Level IIIA (aramid)
• Rifle Rated
  • Level III (steel alloy)
  • Level III Lightweight (polyethylene)
  • Level III+ (steel alloy)
  • Level III+ Lightweight (steel alloy)
  • Level IV (ceramic)

Level IIIA (Pistol Rated) Body Armor

Our aramid S2 soft panel is stand-alone and multi-hit capable. This Level IIIA rated armor protection covers up to the threat level below:

• Caliber threats up to:
  • .44 magnum at 1,430 feet per second or lower, including all lesser pistol calibers. 
  • .357 SIG at 1,470 feet per second or lower, including all lesser pistol calibers. 

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Level III (Rifle Rated Steel) Body Armor

Our steel alloy AR500 Armor® Heritage Plate offers the most protection for your buck, and covers the most common threats one could encounter, including nearly all Military & NATO calibers up to the threat level below:

• Independently tested and rated to NIJ 0101.06 standards to defeat six (6) rounds of 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball from 51’ at 2,780 feet per second.
• Special threat tested to defeat six (6) rounds of 5.56x45mm M855/SS109 (Green Tip) 62gr penetrator at 2,780 feet per second.

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Level III Lightweight (Polyethylene) Rated Body Armor

For when ounces are pounds and mobility is everything, our polyethylene (PE) P2 body armor is the choice weighing at a mere 3.3 lbs per plate (10”x12”). Positively buoyant, stand-alone, and multi-hit capable, the P2 plate is a true contender for those who are willing to sacrifice the benefits of our steel alloy core body armor to save weight.

P2 armor covers up to the threat levels below:

• Six (6) rounds of 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball from 51' at 2,780 feet per second
• Special Threat tested to defeat:
  • 7.62x51 M80 Ball at 2,800 feet per second.
  • 5.56x45 M193 at 3,150 feet per second.

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Level III+ (High-Velocity Rifle Rated Steel) Body Armor

Our steel alloy A1 body armor features an improved, ultra-hard ballistic steel core, further enhancing performance over our Level III rated AR500 Armor® Heritage Plate. With nearly 30% increased core strength, the A1 is capable of defeating higher-level rifle threats.

The armor covers up to the threat level below:

• Independently tested and rated to NIJ 0101.06 standards to defeat six (6) rounds of 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball from 51’ at 2,780 feet per second.
• Special Threat tested to defeat:
  • 5.56 x45 M193 at 3,100 feet per second.
  • 5.56x45 M855/SS109 (Penetrators) at 3,100 feet per second.
  • 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball (non-AP) at 3,000 feet per second.
• DEA Certified to:
  • .223 Remington Tactical Bonded Soft Point, 62 grain @ 2,600 +/- 50 fps
  • 5.56 x 45mm M855 (Green Tip), 62 grain @ 3,100 +/- 50 fps
  • 7.62 x 39mm Mild Steel Core, 123 grain @ 2,400 +/- 50 fps
  • 7.62 x 51mm M80 Ball, 149 grain @ 2,750 +/- 50 fps
  • .308 Winchester PSPB Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded, 150 grain @ 2,600 +/- 50 fps

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Level III+ Lightweight Rated Body Armor

Our steel alloy A2 body armor has a genetically similar ballistic core to our standard Level III+ rated A1 plate, except we made it thinner and lighter. The result is an evolved form of steel alloy body armor and is currently the lightest and highest-rated ballistic steel core body armor on the market.

This armor covers up to the threat level below:

• Independently tested and rated to NIJ 0101.06 standards to defeat six (6) rounds of 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball from 51’ at 2,780 feet per second.
• Special Threat tested to defeat:
  • 5.56 x45 M193 at 3,000 feet per second
  • 5.56x45 M855/SS109 (Penetrators) at 3,000 feet per second
  • 7.62x39 at 2,850 feet per second
  • 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball at 2,850 feet per second

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Level IV Rated Body Armor

Our ceramic C2 body armor is a cost-effective, multi-hit rated certified plate that offers excellent value and performance. This Level IV rated plate is professionally wrapped, water-resistant, and manufactured 100% in the USA. The C2 covers up to the threat level below:

• Special Threat tested to defeat 30-06 APM2 at 2,880 FPS (7.62x63mm 165gr) Armor Piercing Black Tip Rounds, and all lesser level III and III+ rated threats.

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Additional Information/Features

• Alloy: Our steel alloy armor offers heavily-reduced back face deformation when compared to ceramic and PE type armor. AR500 Armor of the Armored Republic steel alloy body armor offers stress fracture resistance, an amazing 20-year maintenance-free shelf life, and un-paralleled stand-alone multi-hit performance with rated calibers. Guaranteed to outlast Ceramic, Polyethylene, and UHMWPE body armor in multi-hit capability and shelf life. 
• Trauma Pads: Designed to be worn in conjunction with and behind your body armor, our Trauma Pads reduce the amount of energy transfer to your body, reducing felt energy through your armor. Trauma pads are Non-Ballistic and offer no increase in ballistic protection. 
  • Video: Why run trauma pads?
• Spall and Frag Coating:  All of our standard steel plates come with a base coat of our proprietary FragLock™ spall and fragmentation coating. Encompassing each steel alloy body armor plate, it adds resistance against the elements and other forms of abrasion. Suitable for hard use applications and storage in less than ideal conditions. With our Build-Up Coat applied, our steel alloy body armor is capable of containing rated rounds on impact, substantially mitigating fragmentation and spall, and significantly improving safety from bullet fragments.