J102 Style Vest with Level IIIA Hard Armour

The J102 Multi-Purpose Reaction Vest is designed to accomodate all types of front and back protection, from soft Aramid Protection to Hard Metal Protection.

Included in outer, is Holster, Dbl Magazine Pouch, Radio Pouch and Pocket Book Pouch.

Manufactured in South Africa, Gauteng.

Constructed with Heavy Duty Condura Fabric and SABS Approved Velcro Closures.

Level IIIA:

Tested to stop .357 SIG and .44 Magnum ammunition fired from longer barrel handguns. No rifle ammunition protection.


UNDERSTANDING BALLISTICS:

A ballistic vest or bullet-resistant vest, often called a bulletproof vest, is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact and reduce or stop penetration to the body from firearm-fired projectiles, and is worn on the torso. Soft vests are made of many layers of woven or laminated fibres and can protect the wearer from small calibre handgun projectiles.

These vests often have a ballistic plate inserted into the vest. Metal or ceramic plates can be used with a soft vest, providing additional protection against rifle rounds, and metallic components or tightly woven fibre layers can give soft armour resistance to stab and slash attacks from knives and similar close-quarter weapons.

Ballistic vests use layers of very strong fibers to "catch" and deform a bullet, mushrooming it into a dish shape, and spreading its force over a larger portion of the vest fiber. The vest absorbs the energy from the deforming bullet, bringing it to a stop before it can completely penetrate the textile matrix. Some layers may be penetrated but as the bullet deforms, the energy is absorbed by a larger and larger fiber area.

While a vest can prevent bullet penetration, the vest and wearer still absorb the bullet's impulse. Even without penetration, heavy bullets deal enough force to cause blunt force trauma under the impact point. Vest specifications will typically include both penetration resistance requirements and limits on the amount of impact force that is delivered to the body.

On the other side, some bullets can penetrate the vest, but still deal low damage to its wearer because of speed loss or their small mass/form.

Vests designed for bullets offer less protection against blows from sharp implements, such as knives, arrows or ice picks, or from bullets manufactured with hardened materials, e.g., those containing a steel core instead of lead. This is because the impact force of these objects stays concentrated in a relatively small area, allowing them a better likelihood of puncturing the fiber layers of most bullet-resistant fabrics used in soft armor. By contrast, stab vests provide better protection against sharp implements, but are generally less effective against bullets. However, some soft armor can still protect against most slashing attacks.

Textile vests may be augmented with metal (steel or titanium), ceramic or polyethylene plates that provide extra protection to vital areas. These hard armor plates have proven effective against all handgun bullets and a range of rifles. These upgraded ballistic vests have become standard in military use, as soft body armor vests are ineffective against military rifle rounds. Prison guards often wear vests which are designed speciffcally against bladed weapons and sharp objects. These vests may incorporate coated and laminated para-aramid textiles or metallic components.

PLEASE NOTE:
Your outer cover offers no ballistic protection. The protection is offered in either the soft- or hard armour inserts.