Even though they look the same from the outside, some vehicles have integrated armor and are used by celebrities, the military, and law enforcement. But did you know that there are different levels of protection when it comes to armored vehicles?
To better understand the safety of armored vehicles, you need to learn about the different levels of ballistic protection used in the United States and Europe. Each armoring protection level is tested using a range of firearms and ammunition.
NIJ Standards for Ballistic Protection Levels in Armored Vehicles in the US
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, evaluation, and technology agency under the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
The goal of the NIJ is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science, and it sets standards for protection equipment used by law enforcement agencies.. Regarding ballistic testing for armored vehicles, all the equipment is subjected to attacks from various handguns and rifles.
The first two levels of ballistic protection in armored vehicles, HG1 and HG2, only offer protection against handguns such as Luger and Magnum, whereas levels RF1 and RF2 protect against different rifles. The highest NIJ level of ballistic protection, RF3, protects against 30-06 ammunition.
EN 1063 Ballistic Protection Standards in Europe
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) developed EN 1063 to assess the strength of bullet-resistant glass. This standard classifies security glazing into seven levels, from BR1 to BR7, based on the type of firearm and ammunition it can withstand.
Lower armor protection levels, BR1, BR2, BR3, and BR4 can withstand attacks from handguns .22 LR, 9mm Luger, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum, respectively.
Then, BR5 and BR6 protect against AR-style and battle rifles, respectively.
The highest level, BR7, is designed to stop armor-piercing machine gun fire, making it suitable for law enforcement and military applications.
VPAM Vehicle Armor Standards in France and Britain
VPAM BRV (Ballistic Resistant Vehicle) requirements are stricter and more thorough than CEN or NIJ. Used primarily in Britain and France, there are 10 Vehicle Resistant (VR) armor protection levels, from VR1 to VR10.
The lowest level of protection according to these standards for armor vehicles is VPAM BRV VR1, which protects against a .22 long rifle. Then, VR2 and VR3 can withstand a 9mm Luger handgun.
VR4 vehicle armor level can withstand.357 Magnum and .44 Rem. Magnum revolvers, while VR5 can protect against .357 Magnum (Type FMS/CB).
VR6 and VR7 can withstand an attack from rifles — 7.62 x 39 and .223 Rem & .308 Win, respectively.
The armor level VR8 can protect against weapons of 7.62×39 caliber, while VR9 can withstand projectiles from.308 Win of 7.62 x 51 caliber
The highest armor protection level is VR10, which was tested against a 7.62 x 54 R caliber.
What Materials Are Used in Armored Vehicles?
Armored vehicles use a combination of opaque ballistic materials, including ballistic steel and lightweight composite materials. These lightweight materials include ballistic ceramics such as aluminum carbide, silicon carbide, or boron carbide, ballistic aramid fiber such as Kevlar, and ballistic polyethylene like Dyneema.
Commonly known as bulletproof glass, but more precisely bullet-resistant glass(security glazing), is made from multiple layers of polycarbonate and laminated glass to provide visibility and protection from gunfire.
Conclusion
Armored vehicles provide varying levels of protection depending on their construction materials, ballistic ratings, and intended use. Standards such as NIJ, VPAM, and EN 1063 ensure that these vehicles are rigorously tested against different threats, ranging from handguns to rifles.
While no vehicle is entirely invulnerable, modern advancements in armor technology have increased safety for the military, law enforcement agencies, and high-profile civilians.
Article Last Updated: March 4, 2025.
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