BMI® BEYOND MISSION & IMPOSSIBLE
Armor Specifications
Our goal is to provide a library of common, publicly available armor specifications and test standards
ARMOR SPECIFICATIONS
US DEA Protocol
Armor Level
Protection
 
DEA Soft Armor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 g (124 gr) 9 mm FMJ RN at a velocity of 426.7 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (1400 ft/s ± 50 ft/s)

9.5 g (147 gr) 9mm Luger Speer Gold Dot at a velocity of 309.3 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (1015 ft/s ± 50 ft/s) 

10.7 g (165 gr) .40 S&W Winchester Bonded JHP at a velocity of 286.5 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (940 ft/s ± 50 ft/s) 

Fragmentation testing — 

2 grain right circular cylinder.  Minimum V50: 833.5 m/s (2735 ft/s)

4 grain right circular cylinder.  Minimum V50: 737.5 m/s (2420 ft/s)

16 grain right circular cylinder.  Minimum V50: 634 m/s (2080 ft/s)

64 grain right circular cylinder.  Minimum V50: 494 m/s (1620 ft/s)

 
DEA Hard Armor

 

 

 

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4 g (62 gr) 5.56×45mm Remington Tactical Bonded Soft Point at a velocity of 972.5 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (2600 ft/s ± 50 ft/s)

4 g (62 gr) 5.56×45mm M855 BT at a velocity of 945 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (3100 ft/s ± 50 ft/s)

7.97 g (123 gr) 7.62×39mm mild steel core at a velocity of 731 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (2400 ft/s ± 50 ft/s)

9.6 g (149 gr) 7.62×51mm NATO steel-jacket M80 ball at a velocity of 838 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (2750 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

9.7 g (150 gr) .308 Winchester PSPB Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded bullets at a velocity of 792.5 m/s ± 15.3 m/s (2600 ft/s ± 50 ft/s) 

Notes:

– The DEA soft armor test protocol is much like the FBI protocol, and unlike NIJ .06 or .07, in that it involves extensive conditioning and contact-shot test requirements. The two protocols are almost identical in this respect. But the DEA soft armor protocol is unlike the FBI protocol in that it also tests against fragment-simulating projectiles, which are made of solid steel and are known to give soft armor panels some trouble. – The DEA hard armor protocol does not require such conditioning, nor does it require contact shots, and BFD is not measured or limited. In many respects, it’s the easiest protocol for a hard armor plate to pass.