Soft Body Armor vests i.e., Level III-A Aramid) are excellent for fragmentation and pistol protection but will NOT stop rifle bullets. Level III-A is only tested to stop higher pistol velocity threats, such as 9mm SUB-machine-gun or .44 Magnum. For rifle threats the high velocity requires Level III or Level IV Rifle Plates (with a supporting vest as appropriate). Front & Back Rifle Plates (also described as Small Arms Protective Inserts or SAPI) are superb protection for your vital organs, but the standard Front & Back configuration leaves a gap on your sides. A "Pentagon study has found that as many as 80 percent of the Marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor" New York Times, Jan. 7th, 2006

 

With side protection plates you can help plug the side gap - on the Ribcage and the Upper Arm / Shoulder and Forearm

PHOTO GALLERY

WARNING:  U.S. EXPORT CONTROL LAWS Level III and IV armor (Rifle Plates) fall under the jurisdiction of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and is subject to the export control laws of the U.S. Government. Export or retransfer of Rifle Plates by any means to any foreign end user, or for any other end use, whether in the U.S. or abroad, without the written approval of the U.S. Department of State, is prohibited. There is often an exemption for a U.S. person taking their personal protection with them in their luggage, and returning the armor to the US.  For the requirements, click here. One of the forms required may be found here.

Ceramic Rifle Plates are NOT RETURNABLE
(except for warranty).

Ceramic Rifle Plates can be damaged if abused, or improperly shipped, and we cannot accept that legal liability.

Carefully measure your Rifle Plate Pockets for inside dimensions to see what plate size - and shape - you need.

Please know that many Eagle, BlackHawk and other plate carriers are not designed for the more rectangular Back plates (only clipped corner plates even on the back). You may need to order two Front plates to fit your carrier.

It is your responsibility to verify compatibility with your equipment.

 

• Plates and Pouches to protect the RIBCAGE area

• POCKETS attach to vests with MOLLE web strips on the outside, just like Ammo or Radio Pouches, e.g., Interceptor Outer Tactical Vest, ProMAX Tactical or "Turtle" Jacket, etc., etc

• MOLLE web strips on the outside of pockets for more MOLLE "real estate"

• Double curved to hug the body

Ceramic Rifle Plates

Level IV  Stand-Alone

ProMAX Colors - popular colors stocked - call for current availability for each size:

Cordura® Nylon Color Choices for ProMAX Armor
Camouflage MULTICAM®  ACU - Digital Camo Advanced Combat Uniform   Woodland Digital Woodland 3-Color DESERT Digital DESERT	Solid Colors   Black   Navy Blue   Olive Drab COYOTE BROWN (Dark Tan) TAN (Sand - Light Tan)

Ultra-light Polyethylene Rifle Plates

Stops Level III Threats With a Level III-A Vest Supporting

Tested to stop, with LEVEL III-A armor SUPPORTING:

• .308 FMJ
• 5.56 X 45mm Ball - M193
  (FMJ not the SS-109 / M855 with penetrator pin)
• 7.62 X 39mm Mild Steel Core

Important Safety Note

(A safety warning most Polyethylene / Ultra-light Rifle vendors neglect to mention...)

This Ultralight plate is manufactured on an ISO-certified production line, but you should know that the ballistic performance of all Polyethylene may be adversely affected, or permanently reduced, by prolonged exposure to ambient temperatures below ~ MINUS 15°F ( - 26 °Celsius) and over 175 °F (79 ° Celsius).

Polyethylene plates must never be exposed to open flame, excessive direct sunlight, UV exposure or any hot surface. Heat damage to the external surface (e.g., melting) is a visual clue that the plate may have been exposed to elevated temperatures. If damage is found, replace the plate.

So, don't take any chances by leaving your Rifle Plates in extremely cold or hot environments, OR letting them "cook" in the sun, for example:

• a closed vehicle super-heating in the sun
• an engine compartment
• unprotected on asphalt in intense sun
• unprotected on top of metal baking in the sun, etc., etc.

If it's too hot for your body, DON'T LEAVE YOUR RIFLE PLATES THERE!

PHOTO GALLERY

Also known as bicep or deltoid protectors, this modular set plugs your vest's armpit / shoulder gap by adding Velcro-detachable Upper Arm Protection. Covers the Bicep, Tricep and Deltoid in Level III-A protection.

Easily attached to Interceptors / OTVs, and all of our Tactical vests, with a strap to the vest at the shoulder, and elastic/Velcro around the bicep.

Protecting the upper arm is important, but most critical is the fact that you now have good cover for the shoulder and armpit gap that is open by necessity on all vests.

For very exposed positions, e.g., turret gunners, entry teams, etc., etc. we also offer Forearm Protectors which extend from wrist to elbow, and provide very good coverage from wrist to shoulder, when combined with the Upper Arm Protectors. (To maintain flexibility and ease of movement there is a small gap at the elbow.)

Tough Cordura® nylon carrier, with many color choices, all coated for waterproofing:

An Ultra-light plate for Level III threats is 100% high molecular weight Polyethylene, ~0.9" thick (~23 mm.), and more expensive, but INCREDIBLY LIGHT.

The main tradeoff is you don't get a protection rating for Level IV Armor-Piercing (AP) threats such as .3006 or 7.62 by 51mm AP, or the semi-AP 5.56mm SS-109 / M-855 (the M-16 round). The AK-47 MILD Steel Core 7.62 X 39mm threat should have a Level III-A vest to support this plate.

Important Safety Note

(A safety warning most Polyethylene / Ultra-light Rifle vendors neglect to mention...)

This Ultralight plate is manufactured on an ISO-certified production line, but you should know that the ballistic performance of all Polyethylene may be adversely affected, or permanently reduced, by prolonged exposure to ambient temperatures below ~ MINUS 15°F ( - 26 °Celsius) and over 175 °F (79 ° Celsius).

Polyethylene plates must never be exposed to open flame, excessive direct sunlight, UV exposure or any hot surface. Heat damage to the external surface (e.g., melting) is a visual clue that the plate may have been exposed to elevated temperatures. If damage is found, replace the plate.

So, don't take any chances by leaving your Rifle Plates in extremely cold or hot environments, OR letting them "cook" in the sun, for example:

• a closed vehicle super-heating in the sun
• an engine compartment
• unprotected on asphalt in intense sun
• unprotected on top of metal baking in the sun, etc., etc.

If it's too hot for your body, DON'T LEAVE YOUR RIFLE PLATES THERE!

Related Pages:

Tactical Body Armor	Rifle Protection Plates Front & Back
Tactical Ballistic Shields	Eye Protection

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