Atomic Defense is a leading manufacturer and supplier of military-grade bulletproof vests. Shop with us for civilian access to the types of vests that police officers and military forces trust in combat situations. We develop concealable body armor using dependable materials like AD Aramid, steel, ceramic and polyethylene (PE). Our lightweight vests offer mobility and ballistics protection spanning the National Institue of Justice's highest standards. 

Vests Across NIJ Levels 

We categorize our bulletproof vests for civilians based on their NIJ levels. NIJ standard 0101.06 has five levels for body armor. Each class offers greater bulletproof performance, stopping increasingly stronger and faster rounds before penetrating more than 44 mm. 

At Atomic Defense, we exclusively carry equipment within the top three NIJ categories. Our experts test each product at our facility in Fresno, California, to meet and exceed its target NIJ level. 

IIIA 

Level IIIA is the highest for soft body armor. Our IIIA bulletproof vests feature AD Aramid with PE backing. The NIJ requires new IIIA armor to stop .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose and .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point rounds. We fire additional rounds from various handguns to ensure our IIIA gear is reliable against close-range weapons. 

III

Level III steps into the hard armor category, featuring a combination of PE and ceramic materials capable of stopping rifle fire. Conditioned Level III armor must stop 7.62 mm FMJ, steel-jacketed bullets. Our Level III products outperform the NIJ's standards, withstanding multiple hits from common rifles like the AK-47 and AR-15. 

IV

Level IV is the highest for body armor. Our PE-backed ceramic Level IV vests will meet the NIJ's requirement of stopping .30 caliber armor-piercing (AP) rifle rounds. Level IV armor will withstand more than one shot from nearly any pistol, assault rifle or sniper rifle.

Here's how our ballistic vests and plates stand up to common calibers and weapons:

How Do Ballistics Vests Stop Bullets? 

There are three main ways bulletproof vests protect the wearer. Some vests will implement more than one. Most ballistics materials stop bullets by: 

• Altering the bullet's shape. 
• Reducing the bullet's velocity.
• Dispersing energy from the collision with the shell.

Aramid slows the bullet within its fibrous layers, which compress its tip into a less dangerous round shape. Steel plates are strong enough to fracture impacting bullets before compressing them and spreading the energy throughout the armor. Ceramic armor shatters upon impact, dispersing the force across each broken piece and away from the body. The material is strong enough to crack the bullet and direct the energy through the shards. 

PE armor melts at the point of impact due to friction. The softened armor slows the bullet to a stop and then hardens. The bullet only affects the direct area of impact, preventing the armor from shattering. 

Browse Bulletproof Vests  

Whether you're preparing for a heavily armed threat or want security for your night out, Atomic Defense has you covered. Bulletproof vests are a reliable source of protection for any police officers, soldier or civilian. Browse our body armor offerings online or get in touch to discuss our inventory.