A4: The Toughest Armor Ever. 

Titanium for its extreme hardness. Steel for its extreme durability. If you need stopping power, you’ve come to the right place.

The Strength of the A4 

The A4 is built to stop the two major threats to an armor plate: fast rounds and high-energy rounds. 

M193 is a very fast round. It is light and efficient. It cuts like a knife, molding into a cutting projectile on impact, following the path of least resistance. 

M80A1 delivers very high kinetic energy. Its steel penetrator, aggressive powder load, and heavier weight (being a .308 round) make it more powerful than the M193 at its slower speed. Composite plates, though they may be able to stop this round, still struggle with the payload delivered in backface deformation. 

These two rounds are archetypal; not only are they serious threats in themselves, but they also capture the effect of a wide range of threats one could face. 

The A4 is built to stop these rounds, not barely, not sometimes, but with ease. It is one thing for a fresh plate to stop a single round; it is another issue entirely to stop many rounds, even after taking the abuse that a vest typically does before a combat scenario arises. 

The A4 is set apart by its combination of stopping power and durability: it can get abused, dropped, and shot, and keep performing.  

Why such high stopping power? 

The Free Man has many enemies. He must be prepared for a wide array of disaster scenarios to protect his family. For this reason, exact specifications on enemy equipment are unknown. We do not have singular defined objectives. 

For this reason, the strength and durability of our armor must go above and beyond. 

For instance: Most .308 users shoot M80 Ball, not the much-stronger M80A1. The A4 stops M80A1 to ensure that you’re covered, no matter what you face. 

A standard test evaluates common threats in a worst-case scenario: close-range with a dead-on impact. Hits like these are most likely to penetrate. When we built and tested the A4, we took the standard test and cranked it up: faster speeds. Stronger bullets. 

Designation & Testing 

Armored Republic has designated the A4 as a Level III++ plate, a stopping power designation not found in typical nomenclature. This is because the A4 goes far beyond typical capabilities. 

“Level III” stopping power is based on the NIJ’s 0101.06 Level III standard, which requires that an armor plate reliably stop M80 Ball, a common .308 round.  

“Level III+” stopping power is an unofficial term referring to enhanced protection beyond Level III. Typically this is against special threats like M855 and M193. 

We designated the A4 as Level III++ due to M80A1 being a far stronger threat than M193 or M855.

To confirm that this plate really is as strong as we say, Armored Republic commissioned Energetic Test Labs to do third-party verification of the plate with specific rounds at specific speeds. Test reports for the speeds listed can be seen on this page. 

Note: Energetic Test Labs also did further testing far beyond the listed speeds, to ensure the specifications will stay reliable in every use case.

Specifications 

Material: AR600 steel/titanium alloy blend, with FragLock™ Coating 
Protection: 7.62×51 Enhanced Performance Round (U.S. military designation M80A1) at a velocity of 2,800 ft/s (+/- 30 ft/s). 5.56×45 FMJ (U.S. military designation M193) at a velocity of 3,250 ft/s (+/- 30 ft/s).
Capability: Edge-to-edge multi-hit protection
Form: Curved 
Dimensions: 10″ x 12″ (Default)
Weight: 8.4 lbs (Base Coat), 8.65 lbs (Build-Up)
Thickness: 0.34″ (Base Coat), 0.55” (Build-Up)
Shelf life: 20 years 
Manufactured: United States

Maximize Coverage and Comfort with the Testudo Gen 3

The Testudo Gen 3 Plate Carrier provides a tight fit and plenty of space for everything you’ll want in a full tactical loadout. It remains a favorite in the industry for its fully adjustable cummerbund, comfortable padding, and a generous amount of PALS webbing for attaching magazines, medical kits, and other accessories. It also features side plate pockets, built into the cummerbund, so you can easily upgrade your armor coverage fits all standard plate sizes (11″ x 14″ and smaller).

Inspired by the Roman Testudo Formation

In 36 BC, the historian Plutarch gave the first description of the Roman Army?s formidable Testudo formation. It consisted of a group of soldiers tightly packed, with shields held in front and above, so that nothing could penetrate the advancing unit. The Testudo Gen 3 Carrier takes that vision and applies it to personal body armor: Having formidable protection by maximizing coverage.

Built for Durability and Comfort

The Testudo is made mostly of 500D Nylon, with bar tacks reinforcing all stress points and PALS webbing covering the outside for attaching your MOLLE-compatible pouches, holsters, and accessories. The plenteous padding also prevents chafing, making for an armor setup that’s easy to wear for long periods of time. The adjustable shoulder straps, made of nylon, also help you fit the carrier as the low offset makes the rear plate pocket ride at the proper height.

Fully Adjustable Cummerbund for a Custom Fit

One of the biggest advantages of the Testudo is its cummerbund: A sash around the lower half of the carrier that both gives you side-plate pockets for extra armor and gives you full adjustability to tighten the carrier to a perfect fit. This adjustability makes the Testudo more than a “one-size-fits-all” solution since the size itself can be changed to best suit you. In its 3rd Generation of Development, the Testudo was upgraded with quick-release buckles attached to the carrier.