What size armor plates does the military use? (2023)

What size armor plates does the military use?

The U.S. military wears only NIJ-Listed Level 4 plates in active combat environments, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and small conflicts in Africa and South America. The reason they always wear 4 is the protection it offers versus Level 3 plates.

SAPI and ESAPI are the most technically advanced body armor fielded by the U.S. military, and are constructed of boron carbide ceramic with a Spectra shield backing that breaks down projectiles and halts their momentum.

HESCO^® products have been protecting brave men and women in the military for more than 20 years. Now, we provide that same heritage of protection and confidence to the heroes of law enforcement with our line of cutting edge ballistic resistant body armor.

8.75" Wide by 11.75" Tall

~22 by 30 cm. ~5.45 lbs.

The most common armor plates' size is 10x12 and it should be enough to cover vital organs for more than 80% of the population. However, it is better to make a couple of quick measurements to determine what plates are best for you.

Standard thicknesses include 3/16”, ¼”, 5/16”, 3/8” ½”, and 5/8”. Maximum length is 580”. Standard pattern widths and lengths are 96” x 288”, 96” x 240” and 96” x 480”.

The plate carrier most often seen is the Crye Precision AVS, although JPCs, slick carriers and chest rigs have also been used.

The Plate Carrier Generation III

Last year, the Marine Corps started fielding new body armor. The new protective vest is named the Plate Carrier Generation III. It is made to provide extra protection from fragmentation and shrapnel.

The Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC) is a plate carrier used by the United States Marine Corps as an alternative to the heavier Modular Tactical Vest (MTV).

Level IV armor is the highest rating of body armor currently available, and it will stop armor-piercing rifle threats. It can withstand up to 30-06 M2ap steel core armor-piercing rounds with a mass of 166 grains and a velocity of 2880 ft/s.

What armor plates does Socom use?

The armor, called the Lightweight Polyethylene (PE) Armor for Extremity Protection, is one of a handful of subsystems to come out of U.S. Special Operations Command's Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) effort that media outlets dubbed the "Iron Man suit," Navy Lieutenant Cmdr.

TYR Tactical has been creating female body armor since 2013 and has several patents based upon its unique shape and design. Over the years, the extensive testing that has taken place is applied to this carrier's design for the FBI.

People shorter than 5'2” (157.5 cm) will be best suited with 9” x 9” or 8” x 10” plates. People taller than 5'2” under 6'3” (190.5 cm) will best be suited with 10" x 12" plates. People taller than 6'3” can readily employ 11x14 (280x356).

Traditionally, a standard dinner plate has always had a diameter of 10.5 inches. In recent years, however, increasing numbers of restaurants have chosen to use larger 11 or 12 inch plates.

The basic system weight (OTV and SAPI) is 15.7 pounds (size medium), which is 9 pounds lighter than the PASGT/ISAPO combination.

A lunch plate is slightly smaller than a dinner plate, averaging about nine inches in diameter. These are traditionally used at luncheons where food portions are smaller. They are also best for typical lunch foods, such as sandwiches and finger foods.

10 x 12" is closest to a Medium SAPI or Large Swimmer cut, so most vests designed to these sizes will fit a 10x12" plate.

Size: 10"x12" Weight: 7.875 lbs.

UHMWPE-based hard armor plates are thick, at 0.9” to over 1.1” for NIJ Level III protection. In these plates, against soft-cored ball round threats, the top 1/3rd of material functions in much the same way as the ceramic layer in a ceramic-composite plate: It disrupts and deforms the projectile.

Can Civilians Own Level 4 Body Armor? The good news for most civilians is we are allowed to own and wear Level 4 body armor in public spaces if we choose to do so. That is unless you're a convicted felon or are using the body armor to commit a criminal act.

What will penetrate level 4 body armor?

Level IV is the highest rifle plate rating under the NIJ personal body armor specs at this time. A level IV must stop a single hit of 7.62MM AP “Black Tip”, which is effectively a . 30-06 Armor Piercing bullet.

SWAT wears a level II or IIIA full-coverage kit including throat, groin, bicep, and more with level III, III+, or IV rifle plates.

Plate Carrier and Pouches

That being said, I've seen the Crye Precision JPC 2.0 most commonly, followed by the Crye Precision SPC. They are also arranged according to each operator's preferences and speciality. Medics, breachers, and assaulters will all have different set ups that allow them to do their job the best.

Back in 2017 the Russian army proudly announced that it had received 200,000 sets of advanced Ratnik-2 (“Warrior-2”) body armor, and that by 2020 deliveries had reached over 300,000 sets, enough for the entire force. Ratnik-2 is a modern design, similar to Western body armor.

Level IV body armor can weigh anywhere from as little as 5-pounds or as much as 9-pounds, depending on the materials used and shape of the plate.

Not being able to scramble through a window in time can get you killed, as can many battlefield maneuvers that put a premium on speed and maneuverability. American commandoes, including Special Forces, often go into action without the body armor, because the consider mobility more important.

Crye Precision LV-MBAV lightweight plate carrier: Army Ranger approved | SOFREP.

Military issued SAPI body armor plates are made from composite of ceramic materials (namely silicon carbide) and were designed to stop 7.62 x 51 (M80 BALL) rounds. In terms of NIJ threat protection level, SAPI body armor would be classified as level III under the current 0101.06 standards.

As in many SOF units, the plate carrier these operators wear can vary widely, but if you look at enough photos, you'll notice that they generally wear the Crye AVS plate carrier with Crye MBAV plate bags.

Can an AR 15 penetrate a bulletproof vest?

These guardians understand an AR-15's mass murder capability — and so should we. AR-15 bullets can penetrate the soft body armor typically worn by police, which is built to stop handgun rounds.

Any caliber bigger than a M80 bullet will push NIJ-Listed armor past its proven parameters. For example, a 30-06 M2 AP bullet will destroy a Level III armor panel, but it won't penetrate Level IV armor.

While steel body armor lasts about 15-20 years before you need to replace it, standard ceramic body armor only last 5-7 years.

UL 752 Level 7 Bullet Resistant Barriers

Most commonly used as a protection barrier against multiple shots from a military assault rifle, such as the M-16, and the like, with muzzle energy of 1158-1402 foot-pounds (1570-1901J).

For the men and women in law enforcement, being protected from threats like bullets, stabbing weapons and fire is critical. That's why gear made with innovative, lightweight DuPont^™ Kevlar^® fiber is so important.

It is recommended and strongly encouraged that sworn employees wear their issued body armor while performing law enforcement-related duties in the field. Sworn employees are mandated to wear protective vests whenever they are engaged in preplanned high-risk situations.

The plate carrier most often seen is the Crye Precision AVS, although JPCs, slick carriers and chest rigs have also been used.

People shorter than 5'2” (157.5 cm) will be best suited with 9” x 9” or 8” x 10” plates. People taller than 5'2” under 6'3” (190.5 cm) will best be suited with 10" x 12" plates. People taller than 6'3” can readily employ 11x14 (280x356).

The USMC Plate Carrier is the new U.S. Marine Corps plate carrier vest system. It consists of a cummerbund style main vest with the option of using IMTV groin and lower back protection. The system is designed to allow the Marine to scale the system dependent upon mission requirements.

The Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC) is a plate carrier used by the United States Marine Corps as an alternative to the heavier Modular Tactical Vest (MTV).

What plates do special forces wear?

The Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) is a ceramic ballistic plate used by the United States Armed Forces.

Some are wearing personally procured carriers, some have older carriers, but I have consistently seen SF guys wearing Crye JPC 2.0 plate carriers. The guy on the machine gun is wearing a Crye JPC. It is a very popular plate carrier across many military and tactical police units, for good reason.