Bulletproof vests against Russian assassination squads. Stab-resistant protection against ice picks and bulletproof against steel-core bullets. Russian spies, assassination teams, and saboteurs are already active in NATO countries with special weapons and modern war ammunition.
Bulletproof vests are divided into different classes ranging from NIJ-2, NIJ-3A, NIJ-3, and NIJ-4, depending on the threat level. The new military steel-core ammunition disrupts this classification of protection. This military ammunition is not allowed for civilians and does not normally occur, but in the case of Russian assassination squads, this is an exception that requires special attention and adapted protection.
Although there are no officially certified bulletproof vests against the weapons and techniques used by Russian assassination squads, we do propose a number of bulletproof and stab-resistant vests that can offer some protection against them.
The new threat from special techniques and steel-core ammunition
Ice pick to the heart
One of the standard techniques taught to Russian spies and assassination squads is stabbing an ice pick straight through the opponent's heart. Most bulletproof and stab-resistant vests only offer protection against bullets and knives. Stab-resistant protection against ice picks is a separate class and also requires a different composition of the stab-resistant vest. Stab-resistant vests with an SP1 certificate offer good protection here.
Different types of Russian steel-core ammunition
Firstly, there are various types of old Russian ammunition in 7.62x25mm Tokarev and 9mm Makarov calibers with a steel core that can all penetrate a standard NIJ-3A bulletproof vest!
A special small pocket pistol in the 5.45x18 MPC caliber was given to KGB agents years ago with the aim of penetrating standard soft bulletproof vests. The small caliber may lack the necessary stopping power, but a well-placed shot to the heart is still lethal.
For normal pistols, various types of Russian steel-core ammunition have been developed. The most known are the 7N21 in 9x19mm caliber and the 7N29 in 9x21mm caliber. Given that the Russian army has chosen the 9x19mm caliber as the new military standard pistol ammunition, it can be expected that Russian assassination squads will be equipped with a 9x19mm pistol/submachine gun provided with the 7N30 cartridge. Meanwhile, several types of powerful Russian 9x19mm cartridges with a special steel core have already been developed.
For powerful assault rifles, special steel-core ammunition has also been developed in both 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm calibers. The most terrifying is the Russian 9x39mm caliber, which can be used with a suppressor.
Bulletproof vests and plate carriers to stop Russian ammunition
Plate carrier with bulletproof side plates NIJ-4
Military Class 4 bulletproof plate carriers are suitable for stopping all these types of steel-core ammunition. A Level 4 Stand-Alone plate carrier with side plates offers the most protection, from pistols to Kalashnikov rifles. If the extra Velcro straps are removed, they can even be worn discreetly hidden under clothing. The disadvantage is that they weigh around 9 kilograms!
WAS discrete plate carrier class 4 SA
There are various types of discreet plate carriers on the market that feature two hard bulletproof plates, class 4 Stand Alone. Some of them have elastic bands with pockets where additional equipment can be concealed. This could be a medical kit, a CAT tourniquet, and even a pistol with accompanying ammunition. Although the side of the body is not protected, the choice is made here for the comfort of the lower weight, around 6 kilograms, and greater maneuverability and mobility to react to the threat.
There are also thin bulletproof plates according to the German SK2 standard that are certified for .357 Magnum Spitskop. This is a brass 9mm full caliber projectile with a sharp point, but these bulletproof plates are not common and can only be ordered in advance. It is not certain whether they can stop sub-caliber penetrators.
In the field of soft bulletproof vests, pistols with steel-core ammunition disrupt all existing classifications of bulletproof vest protection levels.
This is a tricky area because no soft bulletproof vest has been effectively tested against specific Russian steel-core ammunition.
However, we do know that European full-caliber steel-core ammunition in 9x19mm caliber can penetrate 50 layers of aramid. Considering that a Class 3A bulletproof vest contains around 32 layers of aramid, it seems that two bulletproof packages on top of each other would contain 64 layers of aramid and should, in principle, be able to stop most types of 9mm full-caliber steel-core ammunition.
However, bullet tips with a sharp sub-caliber penetrator such as 7N29, 7N30, and 7N31 can penetrate multiple soft bulletproof vests one after another! There are also various types of 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridges with a sharp point that are very effective against NIJ-3A bulletproof vests. Everything depends on what ammunition those Russian assassination squads will use!
Better something than nothing at all!
Soft bulletproof vests are more comfortable to wear than hard bulletproof plates. With the old bulletproof vests of the Belgian Federal Police, a stab-resistant package was placed above a bulletproof package to achieve the high protection level HG2-KR2-SP2. This principle is still applied in some stab- and bulletproof vests and is still useful today!
The new bulletproof vests of the Belgian Federal Police HO2-KR1-SP1 are considerably more flexible and comfortable to wear. The SP1 stab protection is sufficient to stop an attack with an ice pick. However, the ballistic resistance HO2 is not sufficient to stop full-caliber steel-core ammunition. To obtain more than 50 layers of aramid, one would actually have to wear an additional NIJ-3A package underneath.
Bullet and stab-resistant package NIJ-3A (04) LCF Sioen
Additional stab and bulletproof packages from Sioen Ballistics also fit into the various types of Sioen covers. Anyone wishing to upgrade their existing Sioen bulletproof vest with an additional stab and bulletproof package NIJ-3A (04) can order it here. On request, NIJ-3A (06) bulletproof packages are also available, offering even higher bulletproof protection.
Bullet and stab-resistant package HO2-KR1-SP1 Sioen
Additional bullet and stab-resistant packages from Sioen Ballistics also fit into the various types of Sioen covers. Anyone wishing to upgrade their existing Sioen bulletproof vest with a heavier extra stab and bulletproof package HO2-KR1-SP1 can order it here.
Stab and bulletproof Molle vest HO2-KR1-SP1 + NIJ-3A extra
The covers of the new Police Molle bulletproof vests from Sioen Ballistics are spacious, and an additional 3A bulletproof package can be inserted behind the HO2-KR1-SP1 to increase ballistic resistance.
For protection against Kalashnikov rifles, a hard bulletproof plate must be worn in addition. This can be an NIJ-4 ICW or an NIJ-4 SA plate.
Dual Use NIJ-4 ICW bulletproof vest
To achieve the required protection value with standard Engarde packages, one can use two NIJ-3A (06) FLEX-PRO bulletproof packages with an additional thin SP1 Titanskin stab-resistant package against ice picks. If even more protection against bullets with sharp points is desired, a hard bulletproof plate must be worn on top. For handguns, a thin Level 3 ICW plate would be sufficient. For AK-47, an NIJ-4 ICW plate would be needed.
Bulletproof package NIJ-3A (06) FLEX-PRO Engarde
Additional bulletproof packages from Engarde also fit into the various types of Engarde covers. Anyone wishing to upgrade their existing Engarde bulletproof vest with an additional NIJ-3A (06) FLEX-PRO bulletproof package can order it here. For extra ice pick protection, an SP1 Titanskin upgrade stab-resistant package can be requested.
To achieve the necessary protection value with standard Sioen packages, two NIJ-3A (04) LCF bullet and stab-resistant packages can be used. Although each package individually does not reach SP1 stab-resistant level, the NIJ-3A-LCF bullet and stab-resistant packages offer approximately SP1 stab-resistant protection. Two NIJ-3A-LCF bullet and stab-resistant packages will certainly stop an ice pick, and they each provide NIJ-3A(04) minimum 32 layers of aramid protection, which amounts to at least 64 layers of aramid. The thickness of the vest would then be 12 mm but still quite flexible and comfortable to wear. This would be the most economical solution for security guards.
This same principle can also be applied to the discreet Pollux vest. An additional 3A (04) LCF stab and bulletproof package can also be inserted into the Pollux cover.
If even more protection against bullets with sharp tips is desired, a hard bulletproof plate must be worn on top. For handguns, a thin Level 3 ICW plate would be sufficient. For an AKS-74U, an NIJ-4 ICW plate would be required.
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