PROTECTION CLASSES AND GUIDELINES

PROTECTION CLASSES FOR ARMOURED VEHICLES

Whenever people’s lives are at stake, there’s no room for workarounds. We develop and produce our special protection solutions for vehicles exclusively in accordance with VPAM (Association of Test Centres for Attack-Resistant Materials and Structures) and STANAG (Standardisation Agreement of the NATO Standardisation Office) directives. This means we only ever use certified ballistic materials for our armour. The official testing and certification of our entire portfolio of bullet-proof vehicles is carried out by the independent national proof house for a security concept of the highest level throughout.

This is where you can find out more about the applicable guidelines and official protection classes for armoured vehicles.

Protection classes against bullet-related attacks

The ballistic protection classes of the VPAM and the American NIJ (National Institute of Justice) indicate the level of firearm resistance of a special protection vehicle. Most of our vehicles correspond to protection class VR7 or VR9.

VPAM BRV Edition 3

NIJ guideline

(National Institute of Justice)

Armour Type Test Round Test Bullet Bullet Mass Conditioned Armour Test Velocity* New Armour Test Velocity*

IIA

1 9 mm
FMJ RN
8.0 g
(124 g)
355 m/s
(1,165 ft/s) 
373 m/s
(1,225 ft/s)
2 .40 S&W
FMJ
11.7 g
(180 g)
325 m/s
(1,065 ft/s)
325 m/s
(1,155 ft/s)

II

1 9 mm
FMJ RN
8.0 g
(124 g)
379 m/s
(1,245 ft/s)
398 m/s
(1,305 ft/s)
2 .357 Magnum
JSP
10.2 g
(158 g)
408 m/s
(1,340 ft/s)
436 m/s
(1,430 ft/s)

IIIA

1 .357 SIG
FMJ FN
8.1 g
(125 g)
430 m/s
(1,410 ft/s)
448 m/s
(1,470 ft/s)
2 .44 Magnum
SJHP
15.6 g
(240 g)
408 m/s
(1,340 ft/s)
436 m/s
(1,340 ft/s)

III

1 7,62 mm
NATO FMJ
9.6 g
(147 g)
847 m/s
(2,780 ft/s)
/

IV

1 .30 Caliber
M2 AP
10.8 g
(166 g)
878 m/s
(2,880 ft/s)
/

Special

/ Each test threat to be specified by armor manufacturer or procuring organization.

 

Protection classes against blasting attacks

The explosive classes provide information on the explosive impacts that a vehicle can withstand in the case of attacks with devices such as hand grenades, landmines or IEDs (“improvised explosive devices” such as a home-made car bomb). Our armoured civil vehicles are also protected against these threats and certified accordingly. In view of rising threat levels around the world, some vehicles have even been tested and successfully certified with larger explosive charges that extend beyond the requirements of the guideline.

STANAG 4569 AEP-55 Vol. 3

Level Grenade and Blast Mine Threat
4 4b Mine Explosion under belly  10 kg (explosive mass) Blast AT Mine
4a Mine Explosion pressure activated under any wheel or track location
3 3b Mine Explosion under belly 8 kg (explosive mass) Blast AT Mine
3a Mine Explosion pressure activated under any wheel or track location
2 2b Mine Explosion under belly 6 kg (explosive mass) Blast AT Mine
2a Mine Explosion pressure activated under any wheel or track location
1 Hand grenades, unexploded artillery fragmenting sub-munitions, and other small anti personnel explosive devices detonated anywhere under the vehicle.

 

VPAM ERV Edition 3

Explosive Resistant Vehicles

The information and testing scenarios of the VPAM ERV Edition 3 guideline (ERV: explosive-resistant vehicle) are not readily accessible. If there is a justified need, the details of this directive can be requested from the inspection bodies or the VPAM office. 

For ERV Edition 3 certification, the vehicle will be tested with DM51, HG85 and RGD5 hand grenades, a DM31 AP mine and simulated car bombs, among others.

Of course, we also offer special protection vehicles that are certified according to ERV Edition 3. We will be more than happy to advise you on the needs and threats in your country of use and provide you with the right level of vehicle protection!

Would you like to learn more about the services we can provide for you?

Just contact us, we’ll be pleased to help you!

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