August 16, 2024
Q1: What is NIJ? National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
The National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the United States Department of Justice. The Institute's mission is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. NIJ sponsors basic/applied research, evaluations, and pilot program demonstrations. NIJ develops new tools and disseminates criminal justice information.
The International Center at the National Institute of Justice has a fourfold mission: to stimulate, facilitate, evaluate, and disseminate both national and international criminal justice research and information.
Nowadays, the NIJ ballistic protection level standard is a universally standard to evaluate bulletproof performance.
Q2: What are the different levels of NIJ Body Armor?
The National Institute of Justice NIJ body armor ballistic levels currently classify body armor into five different threat levels: Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, Level III and Level IV based on their ability to stop specified rounds at specified velocities. The NIJ’s current standard is 0101.06 with a pending update to 0101.07 slated to be finalized in sometime in the next year or two.
Q3: Level IIA & II Body Armor vs Levels IIIA, III, III+ and Level IV ---- Why is it rare to see NIJ IIA & II ballistic requirements?
We offers body armor at NIJ body armor ballistic levels of IIIA and above. Level IIA and Level II could be considered outdated soft armor ballistic levels that are sometimes still used to achieve a lighter thinner armor panel. We can achieve this level of weight and thinness with our soft armor and still provide the higher level IIIA/HG2 protection.
NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level IIA&II
Level IIA: This level offers protection against lower velocity 9mm and .40 S&W ammunition.
"New and unworn armor of this standard shall be tested with 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 373 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1225 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .40 S&W Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets with a specified mass of 11.7 g (180 gr) and a velocity of 352 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1155 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)."
This level of armor is designed to stop low-velocity 9mm and .40 S&W ammunition. It offers the lowest amount of protection among the NIJ rated armor and is not as commonly used.
In a nutshell, this protects against standard 9mm & .40SW pistols with off-the-shelf ammunition and handgun calibers below that (32ACP, 38 Special, 25ACP, etc.)
Level II: Provides increased protection, including higher velocity .357 Magnum and 9mm ammunition.
"New and unworn armor of this standard shall be tested with 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 398 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1305 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) bullets with a specified mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) and a velocity of 436 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)."
This armor is designed to stop higher velocity 9mm and .357 Magnum ammunition. It is commonly used by law enforcement officers and offers protection against a wider range of ammunition types.
In a nutshell, this level protects against NATO (military-issued) 9mm pistols and law enforcement (LE) .357 Magnum revolvers. Think late-80s U.S. military sidearm and LE sidearms before the Glock 17 came out.
NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level IIIA
"New and unworn armor of this standard shall be tested with .357 SIG Full Metal Jacketed Flat Nose (FN) bullets with a specified mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and a velocity of 448 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1470 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets with a specified mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a velocity of 436 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)."
NIJ Level IIIA is designed to stop .357 Sig FMG FN bullets traveling at a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and .44 Magnum SJHP rounds at a velocity of ~1430 ft/s. It is commonly used by law enforcement officers and offers a higher level of protection than Level II armor. For the everyday citizen, this is the level of needed to protect against most common threats. The updates for 0101.07 HG2 include testing requirements for 9mm FMJ with a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and changed the .44 MAG test to a JHP (jacketed hollow point) with the same velocity requirements. Our Soft Armor panels have been tested to meet both the .06 IIIA and .07 RF2 NIJ ballistic level requirements.
NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level III & Level III+
"New and unworn armor of this standard shall be tested in a conditioned state with 7.62 mm Full Metal Jacketed, steel jacketed bullets (U.S. Military designation M80) with a specified mass of 9.6 g (147 gr) and a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)."
This armor is designed to stop rifle rounds, such as 7.62x51mm NATO and .223 Remington. It is commonly used by military personnel and law enforcement tactical units. In a nutshell, a Level 3 body armor rating is designed to protect against NATO .308 battle rifles. Think mid-80s battle rifles like the FN FAL or HKG3.
Sometimes you will see a + after IIIA or III. The + is not an official designation given by the NIJ and can mean different things from different manufactures. At Premier Body Armor, it means that the Armor has been "Special Threat Tested" to exceed the standard by an independent lab.
NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level III rifle plates are designed to stop six spaced hits of 7.62x51mm NATO FMJ M80 at a velocity of ~2780 ft/s. Level III+ is a designation that the body armor industry has adopted to show the capabilities of armor beyond the NIJ Level III testing. This indicates that the plate can withstand higher velocity rifle rounds plus additional threats such as M855 and M193. The NIJ intends to address this gap between Ballistic Level III and Level IV in establishing the RF2 category of the 0101.07 standard.
NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level IV--The Highest Rated Ballistic Level of Protection
"New and unworn armor of this standard shall be tested in a conditioned state with .30 caliber armor piercing (AP) bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP) with a specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)."
This armor provides the highest level of protection against armor-piercing rifle rounds, such as .30-06 AP and .338 Lapua Magnum. It is commonly used by military personnel and law enforcement tactical units facing high-caliber ballistic threats.
NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level IV are the highest rated hard armor plates under the NIJ standards. They are designed to take one hit from an Armor Piercing 30.06 traveling at a velocity of 2880 ft/s. This test will remain the same for the 01010.07 standard.
What Body Armor Level is Best?
Protection level is an important factor to consider when purchasing body armor. Just because level IV exists does not mean that’s the armor that will suit you the best. If you are unlikely to meet armor-piercing threats in your area, the weight and cost of level IV armor may not be practical.
Give thought to your occupation, location of the places you frequent, and what threats might arise near you, before selecting you a level of body armor.
