European And Asian Country Armor Standard

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Body armor performance standards are lists generated by national authorities, of requirements for armor to perform reliably, clearly indicating what the armor may and may not defeat. Different countries have different standards, which may include threats that are not present in other countries.

TR armor standard (Germany)

The Technische Richtlinie (TR) Ballistische Schutzwesten is a regulation guide in Germany for body armor. It is mainly issued for body armor used by the German police, but also for the German armed forces and civilian available body armor. Producers have to meet the criteria of the TR, if they want to participate in open competitive bidding made by German agencies. The TR specifies different Schutzklassen (SK), which translates to protection classes, which a body armor can have. It specifies five different classes ranging from L to 4 of ballistic protection (e.g. SK 4). It also gives specifications for additional Stichschutz (ST), protection against knives, using the same classes as the ballistic protection, but giving it the additional ST label (e.g. SK L ST). The ballistic tests to determine a class are now integrated into the VPAM guidelines, so that the tests differ just in minor details and only one test (SK 1) is significantly different as of 2008.

The TR scale is as follows:

Armor Level	Protection
SK L 9×19mm Parabellum	This test is based on VPAM PM 2, but it tests also for point-blank shots. This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5±0.5 meters, as well as point-blank shots, of: 8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM41 FMJ round-nose lead-core bullets at a velocity of 360±10 m/s (1181±33 ft/s)
SK 1 9×19mm Parabellum	This test is based on VPAM PM 3, but it adds two police special rounds, with the following modifications: This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5±0.5 meters in an angle of 25°, as well as 3 shots at point-blank, of: 8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM41 FMJ round-nose lead-core bullets at a velocity of 415±10 m/s 6.0±0.1 g 9×19mm Parabellum QD-PEP II/S police special round bullets at a velocity of 460±10 m/s 6.1±0.1 g 9×19mm Parabellum Action 4 police special round bullets at a velocity of 460±10 m/s
SK 2 (PM 5) .357 Magnum	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5±0.5 meters, of: 7.1±0.1 g (109±1.54 gr) .357 Magnum FMs (brass at nose) bullets at a velocity of 580±10 m/s (1902±33 ft/s)
SK 3 (PM 7) 5.56×45mm 7.62×51mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 10±0.5 meters, of: 4.0±0.1 g (62±1.54 gr) 5.56×45mm SS109/US: M855 FMJ bullets at a velocity of 950±10 m/s (3116±33 ft/s) 9.55±0.1 g (147±1.54 gr) 7.62×51mm DM111 steel-core bullets at a velocity of 830±10 m/s (2723±33 ft/s)
SK 4 (PM 9) 7.62×51mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 10±0.5 meters, of: 9.7±0.2 g (149±3.08 gr) 7.62×51mm P80 armor-piercing bullets at a velocity of 820±10 m/s (2690±33 ft/s)

The German TR are generally comparable to the American NIJ, but the German TR usually tests more threat scenarios, as there are no point-blank shots as well as no police special rounds. In contrast the NIJ tests for bigger calibers and higher man stopping power. And while the German TR tests smaller calibers and lighter bullets, it also tests more aggressive rounds, as the first test already uses steel FMJ bullets, while the NIJ uses normal FMJ rounds. In addition SK 4, the highest protection class, is specified to withstand three hits, while Level IV needs only to withstand one hit - although by a bigger caliber (7.62×63mm).

HOSDB armor standard (United Kingdom)

The Home Office Scientific Development Branch is governing standards and testing protocols for police body armor.

Armor Level	Protection
HG1/A	This armor would protect against six (three for S-sized panel) hits, fired from 5 meters, of: 8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM11 FMJ round-nose lead-core bullets at a velocity of 365±10 m/s 10.2±0.1 g (158±1.54 gr) .357 Magnum R375M3 JSP bullets at a velocity of 390±10 m/s
HG1	This armor would protect against six (three for S-sized panel) hits, fired from 5 meters, of: 8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM11 FMJ round-nose lead-core bullets at a velocity of 365±10 m/s 10.2±0.1 g (158±1.54 gr) .357 Magnum R375M3 JSP bullets at a velocity of 390±10 m/s
HG2	This armor would protect against six (three for S-sized panel) hits, fired from 5 meters, of: 8.0±0.1 g (123±1.54 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum DM11 FMJ round-nose lead-core bullets at a velocity of 390±10 m/s 10.2±0.1 g (158±1.54 gr) .357 Magnum R375M3 JSP bullets at a velocity of 430±10 m/s
HG3	This armor would protect against six (three for S-sized panel) hits, fired from 10 meters, of: 4.0±0.1 g (62±1.54 gr) 5.56×45mm LE223T3 bullets at a velocity of 750±15 m/s (3116±33 ft/s)
RF1	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 10 meters, of: 9.3±0.1 g (144±1.54 gr) 7.62×51mm L2A2 FMJ bullets at a velocity of 830±15 m/s (2723±33 ft/s)
RF2	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 10 meters, of: 9.7±0.1 g (150±1.54 gr) 7.62×51mm L40A2 steel-core bullets at a velocity of 850±15 m/s (2723±33 ft/s)
SG3	This armor would protect against 1 hit, fired from 10 meters, of: 28.4±0.1 g (437±1.54 gr) 12 gauge rifled lead slug at a velocity of 435±25 m/s

BFD (Back Face Deformation) to be measured after each shot, maximum allowed BFD for HG1/A class is 44 mm (1.7 in) and 25 mm (0.98 in) for the rest.

GOST armor standard (Russia)

GOST R 50744-95 is the Russian Federation standard for body armor. Prior to the 2017 revision, the threat levels ran from 1 to 6. Noticeably, it included threats with the suffix A, which denote heightened ratings as opposed to lowered ratings in the NIJ standard.

The old (pre-2017) standards are as follows:

Armor Level	Protection
Class 1 9×18mm Makarov 7.62×38mmR	This armor would protect against five hits, fired from 5 meters, of: 5.9 g (91 gr) 9×18mm Makarov 57-N-181S steel-core bullets at a velocity of 305–325 m/s (1000–1066 ft/s) 6.8 g (105 gr) 7.62×38mmR 57-N-122 lead core bullets at a velocity of 275–295 m/s (902–968 ft/s).
Class 2 5.45×18mm 7.62×25mm Tokarev	This armor would protect against five hits, fired from 5 meters, of: 2.5 g (38.6 gr) 5.45×18mm steel-core MPC 7N7 bullets at a velocity of 310–335 m/s (1017–1099 ft/s) 5.5 g (84.8 gr) 7.62×25mm Tokarev steel-core bullets at a velocity of 415–445 m/s (1361–1460 ft/s)
Class 2A 12 gauge	This armor would protect against five hits, fired from 5 meters, of: 35 g (540 gr) 12 gauge lead-core "Hunter" shotshells at a velocity of 390–410 m/s (1279–1345 ft/s)
Class 3 5.45×39mm 7.62×39mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 3.4 g (52 gr) 5.45×39mm 7N6 (PS) hardened steel-core bullets at a velocity of 890–910 m/s (2920–2985 ft/s) 7.9 g (122 gr) 7.62×39mm 57-N-231 (PS) hardened steel-core bullets at a velocity of 710–740 m/s (2329–2427 ft/s)
Class 4 5.45×39mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 3.4 g (52 gr) 5.45×39mm 7N10 (PP) hardened steel-core bullets at a velocity of 890–910 m/s (2920–2985 ft/s)
Class 5 7.62×54mmR 7.62×39mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 9.6 g (148 gr) 7.62×54mmR 57-N-323S steel-core bullets at a velocity of 820–840 m/s (2690–2756 ft/s) 7.9 g (122 gr) 7.62×39mm 57-N-231 (PS) hardened steel-core bullets at a velocity of 710–740 m/s (2329–2427 ft/s)
Class 5A 7.62×39mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 7.4 g (114 gr) 7.62×39mm 57-BZ-231 (BZ API) armor-piercing incendiary bullets at a velocity of 720–750 m/s (2362–2460 ft/s).
Class 6 7.62×54mmR	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 9.6 g (148 gr) 7.62×54mmR ST-M2 hardened steel-core bullets at a velocity of 820–840 m/s (2690–2756 ft/s)
Class 6A 7.62×54mmR	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 10.4 g (160 gr) 7.62×54mmR 7-BZ-3 (B32 API) armor-piercing incendiary bullets at a velocity of 800–835 m/s (2624–2739 ft/s)

With the 2017 revision, the standards have changed significantly. Threat classes now range from BR1 to BR6. 'A'-suffixed classes have been eliminated, and their test threats have been either merged into the new categories, such as Classes 6 and 6A being moved into Class BR5, or removed entirely, as in the case of Class 2A. Additionally, several of the threat levels have been increased in difficulty with the introduction of new test threats; most notably is the introduction of Class BR6, which requires the tested armor to survive three hits of 12.7×108mm B32 API. In spite of the more difficult test threats, the 16 mm (0.63 in) back-face deformation limit remains unchanged.

The updated standards from the 2017 revision are as follows:

Armor Level	Protection
BR1 9×18mm Makarov	This armor would protect against five hits, fired from 5±0.1, meters of: 5.9 g (91 gr) 9×18mm Makarov 57-N-181S steel-core bullets from a Stechkin APS at a velocity of 335±10 m/s (1199±33 ft/s)
BR2 9×21mm Gyurza	This armor would protect against five hits, fired from 5±0.1 meters, of: 7.93 g (122 gr) 9×21mm Gyurza 7N28 lead-core bullets from an SR-1 Vektor at a velocity of 390±10 m/s (1279±33 ft/s)
BR3 9×19mm Parabellum	This armor would protect against five hits, fired from 5±0.1 meters, of: 5.2 g (80 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum 7N21 hardened steel-core bullets from an MP-443 Grach at a velocity of 455±10 m/s (1492±33 ft/s)
BR4 5.45×39mm 7.62×39mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 10±0.1 meters, of: 3.4 g (52 gr) 5.45×39mm 7N10 (PP) hardened steel-core bullets from an AK-74 at a velocity of 895±15 m/s (2936±49 ft/s) 7.9 g (122 gr) 7.62×39mm 57-N-231 (PS) hardened steel-core bullets from an AKM at a velocity of 720±15 m/s (2362±49 ft/s)
BR5 7.62×54mmR	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 10±0.1 meters, of: 9.4 g (148 gr) 7.62×54mmR 7N13 (PP) hardened steel-core bullets from a SVD sniper rifle at a velocity of 830±15 m/s (2723±49 ft/s) 7.9 g (122 gr) 7.62×54mmR 7BZ3 API (armor-piercing incendiary) bullets from a SVD sniper rifle at a velocity of 810±15 m/s (2657±49 ft/s)
BR6 12.7×108mm	This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 50±0.5 meters, of: 48.2 g (743.8 gr) 12.7×108mm 57-BZ-542 API (armor-piercing incendiary) bullets from an OSV-96 sniper rifle at a velocity of 830±20 m/s (2723±65 ft/s).

GA141 armor standard (China)

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security has maintained GA141, a standard document for describing the ballistic resistance of police armor, since 1996. As of 2023, the latest revision is GA141-2010. The standard defines the following grades using domestic weapons:

Armor Level	Protection
GA 1 7.62×17mm	Copper-jacketed bullet of 4.87 g (0.172 oz) mass at 320±10 m/s, as shot from a type 64 or type 77 pistol.
GA 2 7.62×25mm Tokarev (Pistol)	Copper-jacketed bullet of 5.6 g (0.20 oz) mass at 445±10 m/s, as shot from a type 54 pistol.
GA 3 7.62×25mm Tokarev (SMG)	Same bullet as above, but with a velocity of 515±10 m/s, as shot from a type 79 submachine gun.
GA 4 7.62×25mm Tokarev AP (SMG)	Steel-cored bullet of 5.68 g (0.200 oz) mass at 515±10 m/s, as shot from a type 79 submachine gun.
GA 5 7.62×39mm	Steel-core bullet, 8.05 g (0.284 oz) mass at 725±10 m/s, as shot from a type 56 or type 81 assault rifle.
GA 6 7.62×54mmR	Steel-core bullet, 9.6 g (0.34 oz) mass at 830±10 m/s, as shot from a type 79 or type 85 sniper rifle.

Levels higher than 6 are marked "special". Levels 1 through 5 are to be tested with 6 shots. Level 6 is to be tested with 2 shots.

Annex A describes the use of GA grades against other "common" threats. 9×18mm Makarov is assigned to GA 1, 9×19mm to GA 2, 9×19mm AP (steel) and 5.8×21mm DAP92 AP to GA 4, 5.8×42mm DBP87 to GA 6, and "type 53" 7.62×54mmR API to "special grade".