Armor Plate Test Reports: A Procurement Guide
A ballistic test report identifies the tested plate, laboratory, threat rounds, test sequence and recorded results. It gives procurement teams evidence to inspect instead of a broad product claim.
Armor plate test reports give procurement teams a practical way to assess documented ballistic evidence before they specify, evaluate, or source a plate system.
At a glance
- Verify the laboratory. A report should identify who tested the plate and when.
- Match the tested threats. The rounds and test setup must relate to your written requirement.
- Review the recorded results. Shot sequence and backface deformation provide evidence beyond a product claim.
- Request the full documentation. Review the report for the exact plate under consideration, the HG2 Special or the 3++.
- Start a technical review. Use the evidence to move into a bulk-order, custom-gear, request for quotation (RFQ), or request for information (RFI) discussion.
Armor decisions should not rest on a slogan, a product image, or an edited range video. Agencies, departments, government buyers, and prime contractors need to know what was tested, who tested it, what ammunition was used, how impacts were placed, and what the recorded results show.
ArmorIQ's position is direct: show the work. Our plates are manufactured in the United States or in Italy, depending on the order, and the ballistic reports for the HG2 Special and the 3++ are shared as part of an evaluation.
This guide explains what to look for before beginning a bulk-order discussion, custom carrier or vest project, or RFQ/RFI evaluation.
Why Armor Plate Test Reports Matter in Procurement
Short answer: A ballistic test report identifies the tested plate, laboratory, threat rounds, test sequence, and recorded results. It gives a procurement team evidence to inspect rather than asking them to accept a broad product claim.
A plate may be described as lightweight, durable, multi-hit capable, or suited for demanding work. Those claims may be relevant. They are not a substitute for evidence.
A useful report creates an evidence trail. It should answer practical questions:
- Who conducted the test?
- Which plate tier and configuration were tested?
- What threat rounds were used?
- Were impact velocities documented?
- What was the shot sequence?
- What was recorded behind the plate after impact?
- Can the buyer inspect the full report?
These questions matter when an agency is building a purchase file, when a tactical unit is comparing equipment, or when a prime contractor is reviewing a potential manufacturer for an active solicitation.
ArmorIQ identifies independent testing through Energetic Test Labs in Phoenix, Arizona (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accredited, Lab Code 600369-0); the Beretta Test Center in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy; and MyWall Ltd in Israel, a laboratory certified by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. We serve U.S. institutional buyers nationwide. That does not remove the need for due diligence. It gives the due-diligence process something concrete to examine.
A claim is not the same as a report
A claim tells you what a supplier says its product can do. A report shows a recorded result for a specified plate under documented test conditions.
That distinction matters when product sheets begin to look alike. Weight and thickness matter. Threat coverage matters. But procurement decisions also depend on the evidence supporting those specifications.
A supplier should be prepared to identify the exact plate tier, provide the applicable report, explain what the document records, and answer technical questions without relying on vague language. Knowing the common ballistic test report red flags makes that conversation shorter.
What to establish before a technical review
Before moving toward a decision, establish these basics:
- The plate tier aligns with the written threat requirement.
- The report identifies the test laboratory or organization.
- The test details show threats, velocities, and shot sequence.
- The recorded results, including backface deformation, are understandable.
- The supplier can support the operational side of the order: volume, carrier or vest configuration, warranty documentation, and RFQ/RFI requirements.
ArmorIQ supports institutional buyers with armor plates, carriers, vests, bulk supply, and custom tactical gear. The report begins the technical conversation. It does not complete the procurement process.
How to Read Armor Plate Test Reports
Short answer: Confirm the laboratory and tested plate first. Then review the threats, velocities, shot placement, and recorded deformation to determine whether the test applies to your requirement.
You do not need to be a ballistic engineer to ask sound procurement questions. You need enough context to recognize incomplete evidence and request the right documents.
Begin at the report header. Look for the laboratory name, report number or date, tested plate tier, and plate configuration. If a document does not make clear what was tested, it cannot provide much confidence about the product under consideration.
Confirm the laboratory and plate configuration
Start with a basic question: who performed the test?
A named outside laboratory provides a more useful basis for review than an unlabeled demonstration or a product summary with no source. Then confirm the product. Does the document identify the plate tier? Does the tested configuration match the plate your agency, department, or contract team is considering?
ArmorIQ sells two plates: the HG2 Special and the 3++. Each has different stated threat coverage. A result for one plate should not be treated as proof for every plate in a product line.
Match the tested threats to the requirement
A report is relevant only when it addresses the threat profile you need to evaluate.
ArmorIQ lists the HG2 Special for .44 Magnum and 7.62x39 full metal jacket (FMJ) threats. We list the 3++ for 7.62x51 FMJ, 7.62x54R, 5.56x45 SS109 (mild steel core, MSC), and .30-06 FMJ threats. The reports on file cover 7.62x39 for the HG2 Special, and 7.62x51 and SS109 for the 3++.
Those are product-specific statements. They do not remove the need to inspect the applicable documentation. Compare the written requirement with the report, then ask us which documentation package applies.
Review shot sequence and repeat-impact evidence
One impact can establish a data point. It does not answer every question about repeat impacts.
Shot placement, threat sequence, plate condition, and spacing matter. Ask whether the documentation shows multiple hits and whether the test setup is relevant to the requirement being evaluated.
On the 3++ report, six rounds hit a single plate with no penetration. That evidence should be reviewed with the relevant plate, threat rounds, and test configuration in front of you.
Understand backface deformation
Backface deformation, or BFD, is the measured deformation behind an armor plate after impact. It is one way a report records what occurred on the body-facing side of the plate.
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard allows backface deformation of up to 44 mm. On the reports ArmorIQ holds, the HG2 Special measured 7.9 to 11.2 mm and the 3++ measured 0 to 2 mm. The standard verifies the 44 mm limit on the first two shots; we measure and record every shott. For the questions to put to any supplier, see how to ask for backface deformation data.
BFD is measurable, which makes it useful during technical review. It should not be turned into a certification claim. Our plates are not listed on the NIJ Compliant Products List; they are independently tested at an NVLAP accredited laboratory, and the reports are available in an evaluation. The difference is covered in NIJ certification vs testing.
ArmorIQ's Independent Ballistic Testing Chain
Short answer: ArmorIQ identifies outside testing at Energetic Test Labs, the Beretta Test Center, and MyWall, with reported results tied to specific plates. Full reports are shared as part of an evaluation, so buyers should request the one that matches their stated requirement.
We do not ask procurement teams to treat an internal claim as the finish line. Our validation story is built around outside evaluation and documented results.
We identify Energetic Test Labs, the Beretta Test Center, and MyWall as part of that validation chain. The buyer's job is to inspect the details. Our job is to make the relevant evidence available.
Energetic Test Labs results for the HG2 Special
ArmorIQ identifies Energetic Test Labs in Phoenix, Arizona, NVLAP accredited under Lab Code 600369-0, as an independent testing partner.
For the HG2 Special, report ETL-TR-AIQ-25-124-0103 (May 2025) records three shots of 7.62x39 mm MSC at 2,400 ft/s, tested under the conditions of NIJ 0101.07, V0. None penetrated, and backface deformation measured 7.9 to 11.2 mm.
The next step is not simply accepting a summary. Request the report tied to your requirement and confirm the plate, rounds, velocities, and impact sequence.
The Beretta six-shot 3++ test
ArmorIQ identifies the Beretta Test Center in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy, as the source of report 488/2026 (May 2026).
The report records six shots on one 3++ plate, three 7.62x51 mm NATO FMJ and three 5.56x45 mm SS109, tested to our protocol. None penetrated, and backface deformation measured 2, 2, 1, 0, 0 and 0 mm.
That is the level of detail buyers should expect: a named plate tier, a defined test event, and a report available for review. It gives a procurement team a factual basis for follow-up questions rather than a reason to rely on guesswork.
Why more than one lab matters
Multiple testing locations do not automatically make a plate right for every requirement. They do reduce dependence on one undocumented internal statement.
ArmorIQ's multi-lab approach gives buyers several validation points to examine. For a newer manufacturer, that matters. Trust is earned by identifying the lab, documenting the result, and making the evidence accessible.
Documented Results by ArmorIQ Plate
Short answer: The HG2 Special and the 3++ are distinct ArmorIQ plates with different stated threat coverage. Request the report for the plate and configuration that match your agency or contract requirement.
Do not begin with "Which plate is best?" Begin with "Which documented tier fits our requirement?"
HG2 Special
ArmorIQ lists the HG2 Special for .44 Magnum and 7.62x39 FMJ (AK-47) threats. At 8.66 x 11.81 in, it is 0.5 in (13 mm) thick and weighs 3.09 lb (1.4 kg).
In the Energetic Test Labs report, the HG2 Special recorded BFD from 7.9 to 11.2 mm. The sample tested was the US cut, 9.5 x 11.5 in, 0.728 in thick and 4.744 lb. One size is tested and the construction carries across the range.
3++
ArmorIQ lists the 3++ for 7.62x51 FMJ, 7.62x54R, 5.56x45 SS109 (MSC), and .30-06 FMJ threats. At 8.66 x 11.81 in, it is 0.7 in (18 mm) thick and weighs 5.4 lb (2.45 kg).
In Beretta report 488/2026, the 3++ recorded backface deformation of 0 to 2 mm across six shots.
Lab Testing Is One Part of the Validation Process
Short answer: Laboratory results establish measurable evidence under documented conditions. Operator feedback, standalone design, warranty terms, and supplier support help determine whether the complete system fits the procurement job.
Ballistic testing is essential. It is not the only question.
ArmorIQ builds its plates for a carrier that already has the padding in it: one assembly, with no pad to add yourself.
For an institutional buyer, fewer separate components can mean fewer items to issue, track, replace, and configure. Confirm the exact system requirements before purchase.
We carry a 12 year warranty on our ballistic plates. Request the written warranty, understand what it covers, and include it in replacement and lifecycle planning.
Questions to Ask Before Selecting an Armor Supplier
Short answer: Ask for the full report, the exact plate configuration, test details, system requirements, warranty terms, and the supplier's ability to support your solicitation or volume requirement.
Use these questions during your evaluation:
- Can you provide the full ballistic report for the plate tier we are considering?
- Which laboratory performed the test?
- Is the tested plate configuration clearly identified?
- What rounds, velocities, and shot sequence were used?
- Is repeat-impact or multi-hit performance documented for this configuration?
- What BFD result was recorded?
- Does the system require separate trauma pads, spall sleeves, or added protective components?
- What warranty documentation applies?
- Can the supplier support a bulk order, custom vest or carrier specification, RFQ, RFI, or prime-contractor relationship?
The strongest answer is not a vague assurance. It is a report, a direct explanation, and a supplier prepared to discuss the exact requirement in front of you.
Request ArmorIQ Ballistic Documentation for Your Requirement
Short answer: ArmorIQ shares its full ballistic reports as part of an evaluation and can begin a technical review for agencies, departments, government buyers, and prime contractors evaluating armor plates, carriers, vests, bulk supply, or custom gear.
Start with the evidence tied to your requirement.
Request our ballistic documentation package for your intended plate and threat profile. Include your expected quantity, whether an RFQ or RFI is active, your delivery timeline, and any carrier, vest, or custom-gear requirements.
We can help identify the applicable documentation and begin a technical review.
