By the title of the article, it is already clear that we are talking about an important element of the closet-stomach armor. In our case, we mean an item of equipment specifically designed to ensure the safety of the torso from firearms and/or cold weapons. In terms of applications, body armor covers a very wide range of users, from the military, police, rapid response services to private individuals in need of protection. Therefore, in our time in practice are used various types and types of protective body armor, which are classified not only by the type of weapon. From which it can protect, but also the way of wearing, the degree of injury and materials. The body armor protection class also depends on the materials used in the manufacture of the body armor plates.
Actual body armor protection class according to GOST
the type of weapon used, the cartridge, the type of core, the bullet speed and a number of other characteristics allocate different classes of body armor. And, recall, this classification differs in different countries and on different continents. According to the new Ukrainian GOST 8782:2018, which was amended in 2019. This classification was adopted by the Ukrainian Research Center for Problems of Standardization, Classification, and Quality. The new standard replaced GOST 4103:2002, which was in force for almost 20 years. According to paragraph 5.2 of GOST 8782:2018, body armor for resistance to means of destruction is divided into such that have basic and special classes of protection. It is the basic protection classes that are these very numbers that interest the end user. In GOST 4103:2002 such classes were 7: 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6i. In the new standard, class 1a is combined with 1. The other protection classes did not undergo any fundamental changes for the user.
On the whole, the use of body armor in the armies of the world considerably reduces casualties. According to Western experts, body armor reduces the chance of being hit by as much as 60%. So, with all the problems and identified shortcomings, the use of such protection in law-enforcement agencies and private structures is only increasing every year. As long as there are the latest developments in weapons, there will immediately be the latest developments in protection against them.
