NIJ Level III Body Armor Plate | ESAPI | Light-weight

Frequently Asked Questions About Bulletproof Clothing

• HOW ARE THESE INSERT PANELS DIFFERENT FROM THE COMPETITION?

  Wear our Level III insert panels for nearly indestructible armor with support from MIL-SPEC polyethylene plating and an all-weather coating. Many Level III plates and vests feature ceramic alone, this premium plate uses only highly compressed PE. This enables us to construct lightweight and comfortable armor that performs above NIJ requirements. 

  We take our Level III bulletproof plates a step beyond other options in the category by constructing them with only expensive PE material. As a result, these Level III plates are stronger and lighter than bulletproof or steel — an excellent combination of protection and mobility.

• IS THIS A PEAD LEVEL 3 (III) STANDALONE PLATE OR ICW PLATE?

  Level 3 Standalone.  This means that it can stop up to 5.56×45 FMJ, 9mm, .44 Magnum,7.62×39 FMJ, etc. by itself and without extra armor needing to be placed behind it.

• WHY PEAD ARMOR PLATES?

  PEAD UHMWPE (PE) is among the most effective materials for bulletproof plates. When a bullet makes contact with the plastic coating, the resulting friction causes it to melt. Heat softens the plate, enabling it to absorb the bullet’s energy and disperse it around the plate. The surface cools and hardens again to contain the bullet. The absorption and cooling processes limit the area that the bullet can affect, allowing a PEAD vest or plate to withstand near countless and multiple hits before breaking. 

• WHAT IS NIJ LEVEL III BODY ARMOR?

  The NIJ III Bulletproof Inserts comply with the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) standard 0101.06 for body armor. Under this standard, body armor must keep backface deformation to 44mm or less. There are five categories, and Level III is the third highest and the first to resist and stop the most common rifle bullets.  

  A Level III armor plate can stop a 7.62×51 mm NATO FMJ, steel-jacketed bullet at speeds between 2,850 and 2,910 fps. Vests undergo testing in a conditioned state, rather than brand-new. Atomic Defense tests Level III plates to ensure they withstand multiple 7.62×51 mm NATO FMJ steel-jacketed hits, exceeding NIJ requirements to better protect you. 

  Level III armor offers safety against serious threats, making it a pertinent defense tool. Various common rifles fire 7.62×51 mm NATO FMJ rounds. Choose Level III ballistic plates for your carrier vest or personal bag for military-level bullet resistance when you need it.

• WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIJ LEVEL III AND III+ PLATES?

  The NIJ standard 0101.06 for the ballistic resistance of body armor categorizes body armor into five categories: IIA, II, IIIA, III, and IV. The big difference between NIJ level III and III+ plates is that the “III+” terminology isn’t a recognized level by the NIJ.  Most company’s level III armor will only stop 7.62×39 FMJ.  However, all Atomic Defense level III armor will stop 7.62×39 FMJ AND 5.56×45 FMJ and JHP.