Quick Reference GTS RF2 and RF3 armor (threats resisted):
RF2: 7.62 x 51mm M80, M193, 7.62 x 39mm MSC, M855.
RF3: .30 M2 AP (armor piercing) + all RF2 threats.
The main difference between the RF2 and the RF3 levels is that the RF3 can stop the .30 M2 armor piercing projectile.
Now, on to a wordy explanation -
Ballistic armor comes in many shapes, sizes and strengths. Some armor is strong enough (we call that the ballistic resistance level) to resist handgun projectiles. Others can resist .30 .06 (large hunting caliber) armor piercing ammunition. These various resistance levels are captured in the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ) new standard, 0101.07 and supporting threat document 0123.00. Please read and refer to these sources for a more thorough explanation.
It's important to understand that most armor manufacturers build to a standard. That standard is the NIJ 0101.07. It is impractical to test against every known projectile - so we test to meet the standards identified by the NIJ. This should be remembered when you see social media videos showing armor plates being shot with calibers for which they are not rated. For example, an RF2 plate was never designed to stop armor piercing .30 M2 AP rounds... so no one should be surprised when the projectile passes through the armor.
GTS specializes in the production of ceramic armor. We do not engage in handgun specific ballistic resistance. Keep in mind that ceramic plates designed against rifles will also protect against handgun threats. Higher resistance levels will generally protect against threats identified in "lower" levels of protection.
We do not manufacture steel plates. In many testing scenarios, we have seen steel plate fragmentation coatings fail when hit with some of the larger hunting calibers. Usable and wearable steel armor plates can have glaring problems resisting some armor piercing ammunition like the .30 M2 AP (even the penetrators - M855, M855A1, M193 and especially the M80A1).
We do not manufacture 100% polyethylene plates. Yes, this armor is light but does not resist the high velocity M855, M855 A1, or M193 predictably unless you increase the thickness beyond 30mm. There are lots of M855 green tips out there and this round will certainly be used in any major scenario.
For this brief discussion, let's talk about ballistic resistance levels: Handgun: (HG1, HG2) and rifle: (RF1, RF2, and RF3). We only build RF2 and RF3 armor but it's important to understand the others for a more complete understanding.
As you may already know, a ceramic armor plate has main components that include a ceramic strike face and an Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene (UHMWPE) backing material. The bullet is broken up by the ceramic and captured by the backing material (UHMWPE in our case).
Some backing materials may be slightly different and built with varying ingredients. No matter what the composition of the backing materials, the plate backer alone must be able to at least meet the HG2 level of ballistic resistance. We start there and test our plate backing materials to verify that this level is properly met.
The below table is taken from the NIJ 0123.00 document (link above). The table identifies the HG categories, and which specific handgun threats are applicable to each level. The most important thing here that is relevant for us is that we test all of our separated, UHMWPE plate backing materials to make sure they meet the HG2 standard below. You can scroll through all of our NIJ testing data.
Table 2. NIJ HG1 and NIJ HG2 Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats and Reference Velocities
| Protection Level |
Test Threat |
Ammunition Identifier |
Reference Velocity |
| NIJ HG1 |
9mm Luger FMJ RN 124 grain |
Remington #23558 |
1305 ft/s
(398 m/s) |
| .357 Mag JSP 158 grain |
Remington #22847 |
1430 ft/s
(436 m/s) |
| NIJ HG2 |
9mm Luger FMJ RN 124 grain |
Remington #23558 |
1470 ft/s
(448 m/s) |
| .44 Mag JHP 240 grain |
Speer OEM #744531; #44532 or #47362
1This ammunition may be special ordered from Speer.
2 This ammunition may be purchased from surplus.
|
1430 ft/s
(436 m/s) |
Now that we have tested the plate backer to the HG2 level, let's discuss the actual rifle protection levels: RF1, RF2, and RF3 - shown in the table below (NIJ 0123.00).
Table 3. NIJ RF1, NIJ RF2, and NIJ RF3 Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats and Reference Velocities
| Protection Level |
Test Threat |
Ammunition Identifier |
Reference Velocity |
| NIJ RF1 |
7.62x51mm M80 Ball NATO FMJ Steel Jacket 147 +0/-3 grain |
U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications |
2780 ft/s
(847 m/s) |
| 7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition Type 56 from Factory 31 |
Factory 31
Ammunition evaluated and meeting the requirements of Appendix A -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- of the standard |
2400 ft/s
(732 m/s) |
5.56mm M193
56 +0/-2 grain |
U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications |
3250 ft/s (990 m/s) |
| NIJ RF2 |
7.62x51mm M80 Ball
NATO FMJ Steel Jacket
147 +0/-3 grain |
U.S. military supply or
rounds meeting NATO
specifications |
2780 ft/s
(847 m/s) |
| 7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition Type 56 from Factory 31 |
Factory 31
Ammunition evaluated and meeting the requirements of Appendix A -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- of the standard |
2400 ft/s
(732 m/s) |
5.56mm M193
56 +0/-2 grain |
U.S. military supply or
rounds meeting NATO
specifications |
3250 ft/s
(990 m/s) |
5.56mm M855
61.8 ± 1.5 grain |
U.S. military supply or
rounds meeting NATO
specifications |
3115 ft/s
(950 m/s) |
| NIJ RF3 |
30.06 M2 AP
165.7 +0/-7 grain |
U.S. military supply or
rounds meeting NATO
specifications |
2880 ft/s
(878 m/s) |
We do not build RF1 armor. This is because the only difference between RF1 and RF2 is the M855 threat which is routinely resisted by our armor. So, in referencing the table above you can see which threats our RF2 and RF3 armor can resist. RF3 armor can resist RF1, RF2 and RF3 threats. RF2 armor can resist RF1 and RF2 threats.
Some pitfalls that a lot of customers fall into:
Many manufacturers (not to mention resellers) do not test against every threat (minimum three shots per threat) identified under the RF2 category. Make sure that your provider can show you test reports from all calibers / threats in applicable ballistic resistance categories.
All armor is not created equal. The weight of an armor plate is extremely important but not for the reasons you might expect. Sometimes, a heavier armor means that the ceramic coverage is greater than a lighter plate. For example, when you buy an RF3 aluminum oxide ceramic armor plate that weighs 6 pounds... you are buying armor with ceramic that does NOT extend to all edges of the plate. This type of plate may be 10"x12" overall, but the ceramic coverage is only 8"x10". As long as this is disclosed, and the customer is aware of it then it's reasonable. Make sure that you are aware of your armor plate's ceramic layout so that you can ascertain whether the armor meets your tactical needs.
Side ceramic armor plates from popular online vendors are almost never edge-to-edge ceramic and most people do not realize this. Our GTS built side plates extend to the edges of the backing material. They don't have a rubber edge around them like so many other companies. Beware that if your side plates have a 1" rubber edge and they are about 6"x6" you only have 4"x4" of ceramic coverage!
Ceramic that covers the entire strike face (the front of the plate facing the threat) is called "full coverage" or "edge-to-edge" armor. Expected weights for full coverage, RF3 10" x 12" ceramic armor are:
Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) Ceramic Ballistic Tile: 7.5 to 8.5 pounds
Sintered Silicon Carbide (SSiC) Ceramic Ballistic Tile: 6 to 7 pounds
If the plate that you are considering is lighter than the above weight ranges - the following should be checked (checklist):
1. Is the armor edge-to-edge (full coverage)? If not, then decide on the importance of this feature.
2. Is the armor a full 10"x12"? Slight variances in width, height and shoulder's cuts (cuts at the top of the armor plate) can change the total amount of ceramic and thus the overall weight.
3. Is the manufacturer thinning out the ceramic and backing materials to make a more market-friendly plate at the expense of performance? Reputable manufacturers will build armor with some redundancy, utilizing plate materials in excess of those required to meet NIJ standards. This extra material results in better performance, including multiple hit resistance. An easy way to address this concern is to always ask for a ballistics test report associated with the armor that you are considering. Make sure that the number of hits and associated backface deformation (BFD) meet your expectations and match comparisons with armor of known quality. Many times, manufacturers of super light plates are hesistant to share the actual ballistics test reports.
There is a striking industry trend to thin the backing materials to the point that the plate is barely viable. This is especially true with RF3 armor and "special threat" armor that may resist lighter calibers (5.56) but not the tough 7.62 x 51mm within NIJ specifications. I highly recommend that you always insist on buying armor that passes the 7.62 x 51mm M80 round at a minimum.
Please contact us with questions and thank you for considering our company.
