The main characteristic of a body armor is its protection class. Unfortunately, there is still no single universally recognized global classification system. Ukrainian manufacturers have been guided by DSTU B 4103:2002. The protection class is defined by the type and characteristics of the bullet (threating element) that the armor is designed to resist.
Below are the main protection classes used in Ukraine, the EU, the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom and China.
DSTU B 4103-2002
| Protection class | Threat | Bullet type | Mass (g) | Velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special | Cold weapon | — | — | Impact energy ~ 40 J |
| 1 | Pistol PM, 9×18 mm, cartridge 57-N-181c | Steel jacket with steel core | 5.9 | 315±10 |
| 1-A | Pistol APS, 9×18 mm, cartridge 57-N-181c | Steel jacket with steel core | 5.9 | 330±10 |
| 2 | Pistol TT, 7.62×25 mm, cartridge 57-N-134c | Steel jacket with steel core | 5.5 | 430±10 |
| 2-A | Smoothbore hunting gun, Brenneke slug, 12 gauge | Lead without jacket | 35 | 400±15 |
| 3 | AK-74, 5.45 mm cartridge 7N6 AKM, 7.62 mm cartridge 57-N-231 | Steel jacket with steel core | 3.4 / 7.9 | 910±15 / 730±15 |
| 4 | AK-74, 5.45 mm cartridge 7N10 SVD rifle, 7.62 mm cartridge 57-N-323c | Steel jacket with heat-treated steel core / Steel jacket with steel core | 3.6 / 9.6 | 910±15 / 850±15 |
| 5 | AKM, BZ bullet 7.62 mm cartridge 57-N-231 | Steel jacket with heat-treated steel core | 7.4 | 745±15 |
| 6 | SVD rifle, 7.62 mm cartridge 57-N-323c | Steel jacket with heat-treated steel core | 10.4 | 830±15 |
Note: Body armours that protect against firearms also provide a certain level of protection against hand-grenade fragments.
Cartridges:
- 9-mm pistol cartridge 57-N-181C with Pst bullet (9×18 PM).
- 7.62-mm pistol cartridge 57-N-134C with Pst bullet (7.62×25 TT).
- AKM cartridge — 7.62×39.
- AK-74 cartridge — 5.45×39.
- Rifle cartridge — 7.62×54R.
CEN EN 1063 (European standard)
| Class | Weapon type | Caliber | Bullet type | Mass (g) | Velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR 1 | pistol, rifle | .22 LR | LB/RN | 2.6±0.1 | 360±10 |
| BR 2 | pistol | 9×19 mm | FJ1/RN/SC | 8.0±0.1 | 400±10 |
| BR 3 | pistol | .357 Magnum | FJ2/CB/SC | 10.2±0.1 | 430±10 |
| BR 4 | pistol | .44 Magnum | FJ3/FN/SC | 15.6±0.1 | 440±10 |
| BR 5 | rifle | 5.56×45 NATO | FJ3/PB/SCP1 | 4.0±0.1 | 950±10 |
| BR 6 | rifle | 7.62×51 NATO | FJ1/PB/SC | 9.5±0.1 | 830±10 |
| BR 7 | rifle | 7.62×51 NATO | FJ1/PB/HC1 | 9.8±0.1 | 820±10 |
| SG 1 | shotgun | 12/70 | Brenneke | 31.0±0.5 | 420±20 |
| SG 2 | shotgun | 12/70 | Brenneke | 31.0±0.5 | 420±20 |
[1] — with full metal jacket (with tompak plating)
[2] — with full metal jacket
[3] — with full metal jacket in tompak
NIJ 0108.01 (USA)
| Class | Bullet type | Mass (g) | Barrel length (cm) | Velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | .22 LRHV, lead .380 Special, lead | 2.6 10.2 | 15-16.5 15-16.5 | 320±12 259±15 |
| II-A | .357 Magnum JSP 9 mm FMJ RN | 10.2 8.0 | 10-12 10-12 | 381±15 332±12 |
| II | .357 Magnum JSP 9 mm FMJ RN | 10.2 8.0 | 15-16.5 10-12 | 425±15 358±12 |
| III-A | .44 Magnum Lead SWC 9 mm FMJ RN | 15.55 8.0 | 14-16 24-26 | 426±15 426±15 |
| III | 7.62 mm .308 Winchester FMJ | 9.7 | 56 | 838±15 |
| IV | .30-06 AP | 10.8 | 56 | 838±15 |
Technische Richtlinie (Germany, October 2008)
| Class | Caliber | Ammunition description | Distance (m) | Mass (g) | Velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK L | 9×19 mm | FMJ/RN/SC, tinned DAG DM41SR | 5 | 8.0±0.1 | 360±10 |
| SK 1 | 9×19 mm | FMJ/RN/SC, tinned DAG DM41SR Law enforcement QD-PEP II/s MEN Law enforcement Action 4 RUAG | 5 | 8.0±0.1 / 6.0±0.1 / 6.1±0.1 | 415±10 / 460±10 / 460±10 |
| SK 2 | .357 Magnum | FMs/CB DAG (Special) | 5 | 7.1±0.1 | 580±10 |
| SK 3 | .223 Remington .308 Winchester | FMJ/PB/SCP MEN, SS109 FMJ/PB/SC MEN, DM111 | 10 / 10 | 4.0±0.1 / 9.55±0.1 | 950±10 / 830±10 |
| SK 4 | .308 Winchester | FMJ/PB/HC FNB, P80 | 10 | 9.7±0.2 | 820±10 |
HOSDB Body Armour Standards (2007), United Kingdom
| Class | Bullet type | Bullet brand | Mass (g) | Distance (m) | Backface trauma (mm) | Velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG1/A | 9 mm JSP .357 Mag. JSP | DM 11 A1B2 Dyn. Nobel R357M3 Remington | 8.0 / 10.2 | 5 / 5 | 44 / 44 | 365±10 / 390±10 |
| HG1 | 9 mm JSP .357 Mag. JSP | DM 11 A1B2 Dyn. Nobel R357M3 Remington | 8.0 / 10.2 | 5 / 5 | 25 / 25 | 365±10 / 390±10 |
| HG2 | 9 mm JSP .357 Mag. JSP | DM 11 A1B2 Dyn. Nobel R357M3 Remington | 8.0 / 10.2 | 5 / 5 | 25 / 25 | 430±10 / 455±10 |
| HG3 | 5.56×45 NATO | FTB LE223T3 | 4.01 | 10 | 25 | 750±15 |
| RF1 | 7.62×51 NATO | BAE Systems L2 A2 | 9.3 | 10 | 25 | 830±15 |
| RF2 | 7.62×51 NATO | BAE Systems L40A1 | 9.7 | 10 | 25 | 850±15 |
| SG1 | 12/70 | 12RS1S or 12RSE | 28.4 | 10 | 25 | 435±25 |
GA 141-2010 (China)
| Class | Bullet type | Distance (m) | Backface trauma (mm) | Mass (g) | Velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.62×17 | 5 | 25 | 4.87 | 320±10 |
| 2 | 7.62×25 | 5 | 25 | 5.60 | 445±10 |
| 3 | 7.62×25 | 5 | 25 | 5.60 | 515±10 |
| 4 | 7.62×25 | 15 | 25 | 5.68 | 515±10 |
| 5 | 7.62×39 | 15 | 25 | 8.05 | 725±10 |
| 6 | 7.62×54 | 15 | 25 | 9.60 | 830±10 |
Distances: shots 1, 2 and 3 — from 5 meters; shot 4 — from 7 meters; shots 5 and 6 — from 10 meters.
Tests are also performed after 30 minutes of soaking followed by 5 minutes of draining.
