The world’s main classes of balistic protection

The main characteristic of the bulletproof vest is the protection class. Unfortunately, there is still no single worldwide recognized classification system. Manufacturers of Ukraine focused on DSTU B 4103-2002. The class of protection is determined by the type and characteristics of the bullet (striking element), which the bulletproof vest is designed to counter. But in this article we will consider protection classes from Europe, USA, Germany, Great Britain, China

DSTU B 4103-2002

Class	Type of Weapon	Test Bullet	Weight (g)	Velocity (m/s)
Special	Knife	-	-	40 Joule
1	9x18 mm PM Gun	Fe Core 57-N-181s	5.9	315±10
1-А	9x18 mm APS Gun	Fe Core 57-N-181s	5.9	330±10
2	7.62x25 mm TT Gun	Fe Core 57-N-134s	5.5	430±10
2-А	Hunting rifle	Leadcore, Breneke	35	400±15
3	АК-74, 5.45x39 mm АКМ, 7.62x39 mm	Mild Fe Core, 7N6 Mild Fe Core, 57-N-231	3.4 7.9	910±15 730±15
4	АК-74, 5.45x39 mm SVD, 7.62x54 mm	Hardened Fe Core, 7N10 Mild Fe Core, 57-N-323s	3.6 9.6	910±15 850±15
5	АКМ, 7.62x39 mm	BZ, Armor piercing incendiary (API), 57-N-231	7.4	745±15
6	SVD, 7.62x54 mm	B-32, Armor piercing (AP)	10.4	830±15

CEN EN 1063 (European Standard) 

Class	Type of Weapon	Caliber	Test Bullet	Weight (g)	Velocity (m/s)
BR 1	Handgun, rifle	.22 LR	LB/RN	2.6±0.1	360±10
BR 2	Handgun	9×19 мм	FJ1/RN/SC	8.0±0.1	400±10
BR 3	Handgun	.357 Magnum	FJ2/CB/SC	10.2±0.1	430±10
BR 4	Handgun	.44 Magnum	FJ3/FN/SC	15.6±0.1	440±10
BR 5	Rifle	5.56×45 NATO	FJ4/PB/SCP1	4.0±0.1	950±10
BR 6	Rifle	7.62×51 NATO	FJ5/PB/SC	9.5±0.1	830±10
BR 7	Rifle	7.62×51 NATO	FJ6/PB/HC1	9.8±0.1	820±10
SG 1	Shot Gun	12/70	Brenneke	31.0±0.5	420±20
SG 2	Shot Gun	12/70	Brenneke	31.0±0.5	420±20

[1] — Full Steel Jacket Round Nose Soft Core (Lead)
[2] — Full Steel Jacket Coned Bullet Soft Core (Lead)
[3] — Full Copper Alloy Jacket Flat Nose Bullet Soft Core (Lead)
[4] — Full Copper Alloy Jacket Pointed Bullet Soft core (lead) and Steel Penetrator
[5] — Full Steel Jacket Pointed Bullet Soft Core (Lead)
[6] — Full Copper Alloy Jacket Pointed Bullet Steel Hard Core

NIJ 0108.01 (USA)

Class	Test Bullet	Weight (g)	Barrel length (sm)	Velocity (m/s)
I	.22 caliber LRHV, lead .380 Special, lead	2.6 10.2	15-16.5 15-16.5	320±12 259±15
II-A	.357 Magnum JSP 9 mm FMJ RN	10.2 8.0	10-12 10-12	381±15 332±12
II	.357 Magnum JSP 9 mm FMJ RN	10.2 8.0	15-16.5 10-12	425±15 358±12
III-A	.44 Magnum Lead SWC  9 mm FMJ RN	15.55 8.0	14-16 24-26	426±15 426±15
III	7.62mm 308 Winchester FMJ	9.7	56	838±15
IV	.30-06 AP	10.8	56	838±15

Techniche Richtlinie (Germany, october 2008)

Class	Calibre	Test Bullet	Distance (m)	Weight (g)	Velocity (m/s)
SK L	9×19 мм	FMJ/RN/SC, tinned DAG DM41SR	5	8.0±0.1	360±10
SK 1	9×19 мм 9×19 мм  9×19 мм	FMJ/RN/SC, tinned DAG DM41SR Law enforcement QD-PEP II/s MEN Law enforcement Action 4 RUAG	5 5 5	8.0±0.1 6.0±0.1 6.1±0.1	415±10 460±10 460±10
SK 2	.357 Magnum	FMs/CB DAG (Special)	5	7.1±0.1	580±10
SK 3	.223 Remington .308 Winchester	FMJ/PB/SCP MEN, SS109 FMJ/PB/SC MEN, DM111	10 10	4.0±0.1 9.55±0.1	950±10 830±10
SK 4	.308 Winchester	FMJ/PB/HC FNB, P80	10	9.7±0.2	820±10

HOSDB Body Armour Standards (2007), Great Britain

Class	Calibre	Test Bullet	Weight (g)	Distance (m)	Max BFD (mm)	Velocity (m/s)
HG1/A	9 mm JSP .357 Mag. JSP	DM 11 A1B2 Dyn. Nobel R357M3 Remington	8.0 10.2	5 5	44 44	365±10 390±10
HG1	9 mm JSP .357 Mag. JSP	DM 11 A1B2 Dyn. Nobel R357M3 Remington	8.0 10.2	5 5	25 25	365±10 390±10
HG2	9 mm JSP .357 Mag. JSP	DM 11 A1B2 Dyn. Nobel R357M3 Remington	8.0 10.2	5 5	25 25	430±10 455±10
HG3	5.56×45 NATO	FTB LE223T3	4.01	10	25	750±15
RF1	7.62×51 NATO	BAE Systems L2 A2	9.3	10	25	830±15
RF2	7.62×51 NATO	BAE Systems L40A1	9.7	10	25	850±15
SG1	12/70	12RS15 or 12RSE	28.4	10	25	435±25

GA 141-2010 (China)

Class	Test Bullet	Distance (m)	Max BFD (mm)	Weight (g)	Velocity (m/s)
1	7.62x17	5	25	4.87	320±10
2	7.62x25	5	25	5.60	445±10
3	7.62x25	5	25	5.60	515±10
4	7.62x25	15	25	5.68	515±10
5	7.62x39	15	25	8.05	725±10
6	7.62x54	15	25	9.60	830±10

Posted by Sergii_Velmet