The history of the hostilities that have been and are ongoing has given impetus to the development of personal protective equipment for each soldier or other people. According to statistics, the most effective way to save life during hostilities is the army body armor. This type of armor allows you to keep the human body unharmed when exposed to bullets of various calibers, fragments from grenades and shells, as well as knife strikes.
In many countries, almost simultaneously, the production of body armor began, which was mainly used for law enforcement agencies and army units. The technologies that are used to obtain a more reliable protection system are constantly being improved, and a large amount of money is being spent for this.
The main characteristics of body armor
In order to have high protective properties, personal protective equipment must have exceptional resistance to impact from a bullet or other objects. They also have other important features that allow you to use them without harm to health.
The best body armor has a certain set of characteristics:
- The required level of protection according to the class in which it was manufactured.
- Convenient operation.
- Camouflage appearance.
- Practicality in use.
- Durable fabric cover.
- Manufacturability with modernization.
- Convenient weights.
- Certificate of Conformity for tests.
A bulletproof vest, the price of which is quite high, should correspond to almost all of the listed characteristics. If the main ones are not fulfilled, then such products should be discarded and not allowed for sale.
Protection classes
Since the protection of a person in different conditions should involve various degrees, then, accordingly, all body armor should be divided into protection classes. There are seven of them. The simplest and least effective is the first class of body armor. The higher the class, the more reliable the protection.
1 class
This is the initial level at which the human body can defend itself against minor threats. Bullet-proof vest of the 1st class of protection is able to protect the body from light blows with a knife and a dagger, and also ensure safety from small-caliber bullets. It will also withstand a bullet from a 9 mm caliber pistol from a long distance. The total weight of such body armor does not exceed 2.5 kg. This type can be used to protect against airguns and other small-caliber pistols. Since metal plates are not used in such a means of protection, it can protect only with a not very strong knife strike.
2nd grade
Bullet-proof vest of the 2nd class of protection is able to protect from bullets of a small-caliber pistol and pneumatic weapons. It also withstands bullets in a steel shell. The protective layer consists of 7 layers of fabric, which are a rigid plexus. The second class can also protect against shots from a hunting rifle. If you use this bulletproof vest from knife threats, it will be more effective, but still with a strong blow it will not be able to save a person. The advantage of such body armor is its light weight of 3 kg and the possibility of using it under clothes due to its compact size.
3rd grade
The bulletproof vest of the 3rd protection class has steel plates and more than 25 layers of strong fabric in its design. There are also special softening pads that, when hit, neutralize the impact force. This bulletproof vest is able to withstand the hit of a reinforced bullet from a pistol, as well as a blow from a knife. It also protects against bullets from smoothbore rifles. This class of body armor should guarantee protection against bullets of the AK-47 assault rifle. Its weight is not more than 9 kg. Usually they put it on an army uniform or other tough clothes.
4th grade
The body armor of the 4th protection class is similar in design to the previous one, but it has great protection in the chest, back and abdomen. This class reliably protects both from pistols and from the SVD sniper rifle. It can withstand 5.45 and 7.62 caliber bullets that have a soft core. This remedy is mainly used in law enforcement agencies as a basic body armor.
5th grade
Body armor of the 5th class of protection is one of the most reliable. It can withstand hit armor-piercing bullets caliber 5.45 and 7.62. When defending against such bullets, the following situations are possible: ordinary bullets penetrate from a distance of 5 meters, armor-piercing ones - from 10 meters, a pistol bullet is kept at point blank range. The weight of the body armor can vary from 11 to 20 kilograms, depending on the modification and the materials used.
6th grade
Bullet-proof vest of the 6th class of protection is able to withstand a direct hit from all types of bullets of a sniper rifle. It will also eliminate the impact of a bullet with a steel thermally reinforced core. The weight of such body armor can be more than 20 kilograms.
7th grade
Body armor of protection class 7 is a modified version of the previous class, and reinforced armor in the form of a ceramic plate goes to it . It is installed in front and behind the bulletproof vest.
Backward displacement
Bulletproof vests, protection classes of which are 3 or more, are endowed with a unique characteristic - the so-called forbidden shift of armor. It shows how many millimeters the sheet of armor bends when an aged bullet hits it. This displacement can be more traumatic with a large indicator than the bullet itself. The fact is that a large depression from the bullet can also damage the body, and as a result, fractures, tears and other injuries are possible. It should be noted that the Russian GOST very strictly regulates the maximum displacement. It should not exceed 20 millimeters. Therefore, if you need to choose bulletproof vests whose protection classes are higher than the second, you must first make sure of the magnitude of their backward displacement. To do this, you can conduct field tests.
Exploitation
In order for the bulletproof vest to protect a person from possible injuries and not hamper movements, it is made as comfortable to wear as possible. Protective parts must not interfere with movement or any other actions. Therefore, basically, protective equipment is made of fabric into which metal plates are installed. The material in most cases is durable and prevents sagging components. In addition, on the body armor, as a rule, there are various pockets and fastenings that increase its functionality.
In order for the protective equipment to be completely suitable in size for each person, special tightenings and adjustment belts are provided. They allow you to more accurately adjust the body armor to the body and make it more convenient to use.
Exterior coloring is a drawing that is applied on the uniform of all soldiers. There are also individual color options adapted to the specific area in which the operation will take place.
Practicality
So that when using, there is no big inconvenience, the body armor should be quickly put on and removed. Mostly, all models use Velcro fastening. They hold the vest well on the body and quickly disconnect when necessary.
It is worth noting that body armor, the protection classes of which are the same, can be completely different in appearance. This is due to the different companies that are involved in the production of such protective equipment. There are also separate modifications for use by tankers, snipers or other specialized military. For example, tankers of the 6th class of protection, which is designed for infantry, will not be suitable at all for tankers. There is very little space in the tank cabin, and the hatches for entry are small, so they need a special body armor with reduced dimensions for convenient operation. Also, many industries where individual protective equipment is needed require a separate model that is adapted to the conditions of use.
Weight indicators
If the bulletproof vest will weigh too much, then its effectiveness will not be high. Therefore, special alloys are developed and new technologies are used to reduce the weight indicators of protective equipment. As a rule, a weight of more than 25 kilograms is already considered large and significantly affects the maneuverability of a soldier. For maximum relief, plates made of titanium or based on its alloys can be used.
Kevlar body armor
There are special means of protection in which the main component is not metal, but a special fiber. It is five times stronger than steel. In addition, such body armor is much lighter than analogues with steel plates. Since the basis is a fabric of high strength, the weight characteristics of such a remedy are the best.
The material used was originally planned to be used for car tires, but when the developers saw its exceptional characteristics, a decision was made to introduce it into the military industry. This material was developed independently by different countries. Thus, the analogue of Kevlar is the domestic durable fabric TSVM DZh. It was designed specifically for use in bulletproof vests and has worked well.
Certificate of conformity based on tests
The classes of body armor show the degree of protection and should be checked in a special laboratory. It creates conditions when there is a direct hit by bullets of the caliber, which theoretically should withstand bulletproof vest. In this case, various situations can be created for a rebound or other imitations. After exposure to bulletproof vest, specialists inspect the site of damage and make a conclusion about the suitability of the material and its compliance with the declared protection class. In this case, situations may arise when the material withstands direct contact, but the prohibitive displacement is too large. In this case, it is believed that the defense did not work, as it caused a lot of damage by its secondary action.
Compliance of Russian remedies with foreign analogues
All body armor that are manufactured in different countries must adhere to the rules prescribed in the relevant GOSTs. They regulate the main indicators of armor when exposed to firearms, fragmentation grenades, knives and other types of attacks. In this regard, almost all manufacturers produce body armor with the same protection. But at the same time, Russian GOST is more critical in the amount of transcendental displacement. In other countries, larger offsets are possible than stipulated by the Russian standard.
New manufacturing technologies
Scientists from England have developed a new type of body armor that have liquid armor in it. A special substance is placed between several layers of Kevlar tissue and is a mixture of very strong nanoparticles in a special liquid. Such armor is soft and light to the touch. But if a bullet hits it, then the point of contact instantly hardens and does not allow it to penetrate. This development has been developed, and models of body armor of this type have already been manufactured.
One of the new materials that is being tested is graphene. It has the exceptional properties of thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, as well as greater strength under force. However, the big problems in adapting this material to protective equipment significantly remove the date of its introduction into production. According to its characteristics, it is several times stronger than Kevlar and has a very thin structure.
Additional security features
Almost all bulletproof vests that use good protection with steel plates prevent a person from being hurt by fragments of grenades or shells. At the same time, it is impossible to predict how the fragment will behave, and therefore this protection is considered conditional. Also, bulletproof vests, protection classes of which are 6 and 7, are able to withstand a strong blow from a professional combat knife. But this is subject to direct contact with the protection plate.
Recently, models of body armor have begun to be produced, which have additional pads that allow you to protect the neck, shoulders and groin areas. Such protection is much more effective than the others, but at the same time the mobility of the person who uses such a vest is reduced. Basically, these protective equipment are used for special cases when, for example, a soldier does not need much maneuverability.
Features of material for body armor
When used during warfare, there are many different factors that affect body armor. It can be a fire, chemical, temperature or other. In order that these conditions do not reduce the protective effect, it is necessary that the vest maintain this effect. To do this, the material is made non-combustible and immune to chemicals. Also, bulletproof vests can be used both at a temperature of +40 degrees, and during frost up to -30 degrees.
For Kevlar body armor, an additional condition is resistance to detergents and exposure to sunlight. To do this, they use special impregnations of various substances that increase resistance to these factors.
Prices for remedies
The average cost of army body armor, which is accepted for standard equipment, is about 15 thousand rubles. Also, depending on the desire, various modifications can be made by adding plates of steel or ceramic to the body armor. The price of the product may vary depending on the manufacturer. The degree of protection is also very important. As a rule, the bulletproof vest, the price of which is the highest, is equipped with maximum protection and is very convenient to use.
Features of protective equipment
One of the features that a Kevlar body armor with ceramic inserts has is a high probability of changing its characteristics during long-term storage. They can lower the protective properties of the vest. At the same time, in order to make sure that everything is normal and that there are no defects, it is necessary to check the protective plates using x-rays. Only in this case is it possible to detect hidden defects.
Specialized body armor
For the personal safety of a person, several modifications of vests have been developed that can be worn under clothes and they will not interfere with this. First of all, they are used by bodyguards and high-ranking people. Such protective equipment is disguised as a vest, coat or simply worn under a shirt in the form of a T-shirt. However, it is not always convenient to do business with them, since considerable weight creates certain difficulties. There are also separate designs of body armor for children. Their weight does not exceed 2 kilograms, and this is a big plus for those who use them.
Do not ignore the women. For them, also developed several models of body armor that can be hidden to wear. They are made with anatomical fit and are convenient to use. However, it is not possible to increase the protection class for such vests for more than a fourth.
Finally
So, the classes of bulletproof vests characterize the degree of their protection against bullets and other threats to life. Depending on the need, various protection options for humans are used. The most common are 4 and 5 classes of body armor. Such funds protect the person well and do not create great inconvenience when using.
Each type of protective equipment is certified by a special laboratory, which, according to the results, can issue a certificate of compliance with the protection class. It is also worth noting the wide distribution of various modifications of body armor, which are used by individuals due to their professional activities.