NIJ STANDARD-0101.06

NIJ THREAT LEVELS EXPLAINED

Complete guide to NIJ Standard-0101.06 ballistic protection levels. Understand the technical specifications and choose the right armor for your protection needs.

5 Protection Levels
NIJ Certified Standards
0101.06 Current Standard

NIJ Standard-0101.06 Technical Specifications

Complete ballistic performance requirements for body armor protection levels

Armor Type Weapon Type Test Bullet Bullet Mass Test Velocity* New Armor Test Velocity* Hits Per Panel at 0° Angle Maximum BFS Depth
IIA
 pistol 9mm FMJ RN 8.0g
(124gr)		 355m/s
(1165ft/s)		 373m/s
(1225ft/s)		 4 44mm
(1.73in)
revolver .40S&W FMJ 11.7g
(180gr)		 325m/s
(1065ft/s)		 352m/s
(1155ft/s)		 4 44mm
(1.73in)
II
 submachine gun 9mm FMJ RN 8.0g
(124gr)		 379m/s
(1245ft/s)		 398m/s
(1305ft/s)		 4 44mm
(1.73in)
IIIA
 revolver .357 Magnum JSP 10.2g
(158gr)		 408m/s
(1340ft/s)		 436m/s
(1430ft/s)		 4 44mm
(1.73in)
revolver .357 SIG FMJ FN 8.1g
(125gr)		 430m/s
(1410ft/s)		 448m/s
(1470ft/s)		 4 44mm
(1.73in)
revolver .44 Magnum SJHP 15.6g
(240gr)		 408m/s
(1340ft/s)		 436m/s
(1430ft/s)		 4 44mm
(1.73in)
III
 rifle 7.62mm NATO FMJ 9.6g
(147gr)		 847m/s
(2780ft/s)		 — 6 44mm
(1.73in)
IV
 sniper rifle 0.30CALIBER M2AP 10.8g
(166gr)		 878m/s
(2880ft/s)		 — 1 to 6 44mm
(1.73in)

*Conditioned Armor Test Velocity

Protection Level Breakdown

Soft Armor Protection

Flexible, concealable protection against handgun threats

IIA

Level IIA

Basic Concealed Protection
Primary Threats:
  • 9mm FMJ (124gr @ 1165 ft/s)
  • .40 S&W FMJ (180gr @ 1065 ft/s)
Typical Applications:

Basic concealed carry, minimal daily protection

II

Level II

Standard Soft Armor
Primary Threats:
  • 9mm FMJ (124gr @ 1245 ft/s)
  • .357 Magnum JSP (158gr @ 1340 ft/s)
Typical Applications:

Law enforcement patrol, security personnel

IIIA

Level IIIA

Advanced Soft Armor
Primary Threats:
  • .357 SIG FMJ FN (125gr @ 1410 ft/s)
  • .44 Magnum SJHP (240gr @ 1340 ft/s)
  • Most handgun calibers
Typical Applications:

Executive protection, high-risk environments, professional security

Most Popular

Hard Armor Protection

Rigid plate protection against rifle threats

III

Level III

Rifle Protection
Primary Threats:
  • 7.62mm NATO FMJ (147gr @ 2780 ft/s)
  • All handgun rounds
  • Most intermediate rifle calibers
Typical Applications:

Military operations, tactical teams, active shooter response

Note: Does not protect against armor-piercing ammunition
IV

Level IV

Maximum Protection
Primary Threats:
  • .30 Caliber M2AP (166gr @ 2880 ft/s)
  • All Level III threats
  • Armor-piercing rifle rounds
Typical Applications:

Combat operations, extreme high-threat environments

Maximum NIJ Protection Level

Technical Considerations

BFS Depth Testing

Backface Signature (BFS) depth measures clay deformation behind armor. Maximum allowable depth is 44mm (1.73 inches) for all levels to prevent blunt trauma injury.

Multi-Hit Capability

Soft armor levels (IIA-IIIA) tested with 4 hits per panel. Hard armor Level III tested with 6 hits. Level IV tested with 1-6 hits depending on plate size.

Conditioning Requirements

All armor must pass tests in both new condition and after environmental conditioning (heat, humidity, aging) to ensure long-term reliability.

Weight Considerations

Soft armor (IIA-IIIA): 1-3 lbs. Hard armor Level III: 3-8 lbs. Level IV: 4-10 lbs. Higher protection requires heavier materials.

Proper Fit Critical

Armor must cover vital organs completely. Edge shots or gaps in coverage can be fatal. Professional fitting recommended for all protection levels.

Service Life

Soft armor: 5-year warranty typical. Hard plates: 10+ years with proper care. Environmental factors and use frequency affect longevity.