Contact & Protection Levels

VAT-number: SE770518559801

Ballistic testing and Quality control

At SPT Protection we only use top of the line ballistic raw materials from the worlds leading manufacturers. The ballistic performance of our products has been tested by independent testing laboratories according to the american NIJ 0101.06 or NIJ 0108.01 standards. Tests are commonly set-up to represent a worst case scenario like beeing shot from 0m distance with 0 degree angle against the armor.

Since EU is our main market we have tailored threat levels especially for european users. 

We offer Body Armor in four different threat levels:

1. Soft armor Level IIIA Soft armor is flexible and comfortable. A soft armor vest also offers a larger protection area compared to a plate carrier. Soft armor protects against most handgun threats and IIIA armor is rated with .357 SIG and .44 Magnum. Soft armor can also protect against fragments and knife stabs. The downside with soft armor is that hard bullets (like steel core 9mm) and very fast bullets (like 7,62x25) may penetrate and it offers no protection against rifle threats. Common rifle calibers like 7,62x39 and 5,56x45 will penetrate soft armor even when fired from several hundred meters/yards.

2. Hard armor Level AK47 LW This is our own Special Threat Level and we highly recommend our steel core armor with this rating since it offers good protection with a very low weight. On this level you get protection against handgun/submachine gun calibers (including the ones mentioned above that can penetrate soft armor) and rifle threats up to the powerful 7,62x39 (AK-47). Will also protect against lower velocity 5,56x45. 

3. Hard armor Level SRT AK-47+ This is a Special Rifle Threat level that is slightly stronger compared to the level above. Rated with 7,62x39 MSC and 5,56x45 (up to 860m/s). While the level above only offers single curved body armour plates this level also offers multi-curved models. 

4. Hard armor Level III ICW SRT; Our highest level. Choose this level if you want protection against a wider range of rifle threats and dont mind the slightly higher weight. Our armor plates with this rating is multi-hit capable and protects against many common threats like 7,62x39, 5,56x45 and 5,45x39 - both lead core bullets and steel core variants like 5,56 SS109 / M855 Green Tip, 7,62x39 M43 MSC, 5,45x39 7N6 Mild Steel Core and 7N10 penetrator core. Stops the mentioned projectiles at a higher velocity compared to our other protection levels. When used ICW soft armor NIJ 0101.06 Level III is also reached which means protection against full velocity 7,62x51 M80 (minimum 6 hits).

Our Ballistic Shields and Backpack Armor plates are usually tested according to the NIJ 0108.01 Standard instead of the 0101.06 standard that is used for body armor, but the threat levels are approximately the same as stated above. Contact us if you need detailed information about particular threats.

Ballistic materials: Steel vs Fiber & Ceramic

All materials have pros and cons. We prefer our ballistic steel for most applications but ceramic and aramid/PE products are in some instances the better choise. When considering a product also remember that the ballistic standards only set the level for what is required at a minimum, but there is no upper limit so two items with the same rating can perform very differently in real life.

Ballistic steel tends to be better at edge hits and multiple hits compared to fiber and ceramic products. We have first hand experience with ceramic plates being penetrated 25mm from the edge and by taking three hits within the same area but approx. 20mm from eachother. Both examples are accepted in the NIJ standard. In contrast high quality ballistic steel can take hits just a few mm from the edges and are superior when it comes to multiple close hits.

Ballistic steel has a lower investment cost and a much longer shelf life. Fiber materials commonly have 5 years warranty on the protection level and needs to be discarded after that time. They can also be negatively affected by sunlight and moisture. As long as corrosion is avoided ballistic steel has an almost indefinite shelf life. The lower investment cost combined with a longer shelf life makes steel core armor significantly more economical.

Ballistic steel is generally superior when it comes to durability. For example fiber (aramid/polyethylene) & ceramic shields and body armor plates tend to easily get scratches, which can expose the fiber material and subject it to degradation from uv-light or moisture. Expensive ceramic armor can sometimes crack from ordinary use. Fiber/ceramic have several pros as well, but these examples are important points and has been described to us by operators as a significant problem.

Our steel core shields and body armor on the other hand are very scratch resistant and can take rough handling on a whole other level. Scratching the coating with a key or nail will not result in more damage than small marks not even close to penetrating the coating. While we would not recommend anyone trying it, but as an illustration of the difference to ceramic, our steel core models could be hit with a hammer or dropped to the ground from several meters without risk of immediately altering the protection level.

To sum it up: Ballistic steel is generally better against edge hits, multiple hits and some steel jacked/core bullets. It has a lower investment cost, a much longer shelf life and is superior when it comes to durability. For these reasons we highly recommend our steel core products to most customers.