NIJ Certification of hard armor requires submission of 10” x 12” test plates which must demonstrate the ability to defeat specific rounds tested to a valid NIJ shot pattern, after exposure to a stringent conditioning protocol to simulate aging and wear. Level III requires six M80 rounds per plate. Level IV requires one AP M2 per plate.
NIJ’s process provides for the inclusion of other size torso plates of identical construction to be included under the Certification without further NIJ testing.
Hesco holds itself to a higher standard by publishing the minimum number of shots that each size plate can be expected to defeat under similar NIJ testing methods, as well as listing many additional threats not addressed under the NIJ Certification process. The minimum number of shots are shown in the Threat Performance Matrix.