BMI® BEYOND MISSION & IMPOSSIBLE
Armor Specifications
Our goal is to provide a library of common, publicly available armor specifications and test standards
ARMOR SPECIFICATIONS
VPAM
Armor Level
Protection
 
PM 1

.22 Long Rifle

2.6±0.1 g (40±1.54 gr) .22 Long Rifle lead round-nose bullets at a velocity of 360±10 m/s (1181±33 ft/s)

 
 
PM 2

9×19mm Parabellum

 

8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM41 FMJ round-nose lead-core bullets at a velocity of 360±10 m/s (1181±33 ft/s)

 
 
PM 3

9×19mm Parabellum

 

8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM41 FMJ round-nose, lead-core, steel-jacketed bullets at a velocity of 415±10 m/s (1361±33 ft/s)

 
 
 
PM 4

.357 Magnum

.44 Magnum

 

10.2±0.1 g (157±1.54 gr) .357 Magnum bullets at a velocity of 430±10 m/s (1410±33 ft/s)

15.6±0.1 g (157±1.54 gr) .44 Magnum bullets at a velocity of 440±10 m/s (1443±33 ft/s)

 
 
PM 5

.357 Magnum 
Semi-AP

7.1±0.1 g (109±1.54 gr) .357 Magnum solid-brass bullets at a velocity of 580±10 m/s (1902±33 ft/s)

 
PM 6

7.62×39mm

8.0±0.1 g (122±1.54 gr) 7.62×39mm PS MSC bullets at a velocity of 720±10 m/s (2362±33 ft/s)

 
PM 7

5.56×45mm

7.62×51mm

4.0±0.1 g (62±1.54 gr) 5.56×45mm SS109/US: M855 FMJ bullets at a velocity of 950±10 m/s (3116±33 ft/s)

9.55±0.1 g (147±1.54 gr) 7.62×51mm DM111 steel-core bullets at a velocity of 830±10 m/s (2723±33 ft/s)

 
PM 8

7.62×39mm

7.7±0.1 g (118±1.54 gr) 7.62×39mm BZ API (armor-piercing incendiary) bullets at a velocity of 740±10 m/s (2427±33 ft/s)

 
PM 9

7.62×51mm

9.7±0.2 g (149±3.08 gr) 7.62×51mm P80 armor-piercing bullets at a velocity of 820±10 m/s (2690±33 ft/s)

 
PM 10

7.62×54mmR

10.4±0.1 g (160±1.54 gr) 7.62×54mmR B32 API bullets at a velocity of 860±10 m/s (2821±33 ft/s)

 
PM 11

7.62×51mm

8.4±0.1 g (129±1.54 gr) 7.62×51mm Nammo AP8/US M993 armor-piercing bullets at a velocity of 930±10 m/s (3051±33 ft/s)

 
PM 12

7.62×51mm

12.7±0.1 g (196±1.54 gr) 7.62×51mm RUAG SWISS P AP armor-piercing bullets at a velocity of 810±10 m/s (2657±33 ft/s)

 
PM 13

12.7×99mm

43.5±0.1 g (671±7.71 gr) 12.7×99mm RUAG SWISS P penetrator bullets at a velocity of 930±10 m/s (3051±33 ft/s)

 
 
 
PM 14

14.5×114mm

_______________________

63.4±0.1 g (978±7.71 gr) 14.5×114mm B32 API bullets at a velocity of 911±10 m/s (2988±33 ft/s)

Notes:

– Three shots are placed on each armor panel during testing, regardless of threat level. – Backface deformation is measured, and up to roughly 50mm is allowed in body armor applications. When VPAM is adapted for helmet testing, the limits are much more strict, corresponding very roughly to 10-12mm.