An armor plate is one of the main elements of military equipment that provides protection of the body and vital organs. It is able to withstand hits from fragments, as well as bullets of various calibers depending on the class, while also having different shapes and weight.

When choosing gear for yourself, you need to consider several main characteristics, among which is weight, since your comfort and mobility during combat tasks will depend on it. The heavier the set of equipment, the faster you get exhausted and lose effectiveness. So how do you choose a ballistic plate so that it protects rather than hinders?

What does a plate's weight depend on?

Several factors affect the weight of plates for body armor, in particular the product's material, protection class and size. For example, armor plates of the same class but made of different raw materials will have different weight. And at the same time a plate can be lighter or heavier depending on its size.

1. Protection class

The higher the armor class, the larger the caliber it can withstand. However, the flip side of reliable protection is weight, since more material is needed to make it. In ceramic plates, which provide a high level of ballistic protection, we additionally use several layers of UHMWPE: the first layer holds the shattered particles of the coating from flying out of the plate, and the polyethylene placed after the ceramic performs the function of a damper.

2. Material

For making armor plates, steel, ceramic composites and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene are mostly used. The materials have not only different ballistic properties but also weight. We do not make steel plates, since they are heavy, do not contribute to our soldiers' mobility and create additional danger for those nearby, since a bullet can ricochet and hit a person close by. Ceramic and polyethylene have significantly lower weight compared to steel, and are also able to slow down and "absorb" the bullet's energy without the threat of ricochet.

3. Size

Plates for a plate carrier must be selected by individual parameters to get optimal protection. We make them in different sizes (from three to five depending on the type of plates), so the weight of the armor also differs. In addition, the actual protective area in armor plates can differ: in cheap plates of size 25×30 cm the ceramic area is usually 20×25 cm, whereas in our Level 4 and 6 plates it's approximately 23×31 cm. 

How much does a ballistic plate weigh?

Our plates are technological, since we use modern materials that make it possible to achieve an optimal balance of weight and the corresponding protection class. To produce Level 3 plates, or NIJ III, we use UHMWPE — a light yet very strong material. The weight of such armor in size M is only 1.5 kg. When it comes to a higher protection class, we use ceramic composites. Thus, if a Level 4 steel plate of the "universal" size 25×30 cm weighs 3–3.5 kg, then our silicon-carbide ceramic plates of close parameters weigh ~2.4 kg. And when there's a need for maximum protection, we can offer Level 6 plates of aluminum oxide, which have no steel analogues in ballistic properties (the maximum level for steel armor plates is Level 5 under DSTU, or NIJ IV protection class). The weight of Level 6 armor plates is from 2.9 kg.

The table shows the weight of our plates for comparison:

Features of choosing armor plates

You need to buy plates based on your individual needs and working environment. Considering the likely level of threats, choose the protection class: if you work in a front-line zone, at a checkpoint or with a volunteer mission, you can take a lightened Level 3 plate; for work in combat, plates of Level 4 and above are better suited. Which bullets and fragments the armor can withstand can be seen in the test-firing protocol, a link to which is on the back of each of our plates. Our armor meets quality standards and, to confirm the protection class under DSTU, undergoes ballistic testing in a certified laboratory at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Keep in mind that a plate of the same class can be made of different materials, which can affect your comfort while wearing it. Plates of ceramic composites provide both a high protection class (from Level 4 under DSTU) and convenience at the same time, since they are significantly lighter than steel ones.

In addition, our armor plates have a curvature in two planes, which ensures a snugger fit to the body, preventing fragments from getting into the openings between the armor and the torso. Moreover, thanks to this shape and the large size range, our plates are convenient for both men and women.