Are Belgian military bulletproof vests too light? Kaliburn and Storm plate carrier level III+  and IV. West Flanders and Lombardsijde barracks evaluation. Alternative Multicam equipment. 

West Flanders plays an important strategic role in Belgian defense with large-scale investments in infrastructure and additional military personnel. Important military bases in West Flanders include Lombardsijde, Zeebrugge, and Ypres. The biggest (Russian) military threat to Belgian territory almost certainly comes from the North Sea. It is logical that the province of West Flanders, with its military bases on the coast, forms the first line of Belgian defense.

The barracks Kwartier Kamp van Lombardsijde is developing into one of the largest military quarters in West Flanders and is known as a center for military artillery and its anti-aircraft school. Furthermore, it is relatively close to the drone training school in Ostend. 

 

This blog was written after a visit to the Lombardsijde military barracks.

 The light blue links are references to our web store.

As a result of the many casualties in Ukraine who died because their bulletproof vests were too light or of inferior quality, it is my duty as a West Flemish person to pay attention to this. The demand for and the bulletproof vests purchased by Belgians in our store for activities in Ukraine were all Class 4. 

First and foremost, our boys and girls need to be interested in the capabilities of their protective clothing. It is unacceptable for our soldiers to simply assume that their bulletproof vests are Class 4 and can stop all Russian bullets!

Sturm military plate carrier

Sturm plate carrier of the Belgian Army

The military plate carrier Sturm, supplied by a West Flemish company, belongs to the category of minimalist plate carriers in Multicam camouflage, which are very compact and can be worn with great comfort to the satisfaction of our troops. The Sturm plate carrier offers protection against rifle bullets depending on the protection level of the hard ballistic plates inserted. (alternative Multicam plate carrier Warrior Assault System) 

It is therefore up to our soldiers to check the label of their hard ballistic plates to understand against which weapons/calibers their hard ballistic plates offer protection. 

There are different types of hard ballistic plates possible!

Hard ballistic plates NIJ 0101.04  Level III++ Stand Alone

Level III : Standard Level III means protection against rifle bullets up to caliber 7.62 with a lead core. This includes hunting ammunition and the military caliber 7.62x51mm NATO BALL ammunition sometimes used in the SCAR-H and MAG. 

Level III+ : Most Russian ammunition used in the AK 47 Kalashnikov assault rifle is of the type 7.62x39mm AK47 MSC (Mild Steel Core). This soft steel core ammunition has a greater penetration power than a lead core, hence the first (+) after Level III.

Level III++: Most ammunition used by military personnel of the NATO forces and also in the Belgian Army is in caliber 5.56x45mm SS109 (MSC) with a soft steel core, used in the SCAR-L and FN-Minimi (second + after III). The SS109 cartridge therefore has a higher penetration power than a target 5.56x45mm bullet with a soft lead core. 

Belgian Army SCAR-L for the 5.56x45mm SS109 cartridge.

Advantage of this type of NIJ-3++ hard ballistic plates is that they are made of a high-quality polyethylene type and are quite light. They offer sufficient protection against most types of ammunition used by terrorists and Russian soldiers. This type of NIJ-III++ bulletproof vest is therefore ideal protection for soldiers in Brussels or Antwerp city center, who are performing a protection mission where a possible terrorist might use an AK47 or AR15 rifle. These ballistic plates are light, can be worn for a long time, and offer protection against the expected threat. 

Belgian FN MAG in 7.62x51mm caliber as an anti-drone weapon. 

Disadvantage of this type of NIJ-3++ Although this type of ballistic plates is quite popular due to its low weight, they do not offer protection against the ammunition 7.62x51mm AP (Armor Piercing) with a hard steel core that can be used by the Belgian FN MAG and the SCAR-H. Nor against the NATO caliber 7.62x63 mm M2 AP (.30-06 Armor Piercing) used by some machine guns and sniper rifles. For Belgian soldiers on missions abroad, these types of ballistic plates do not offer protection against the Russian 7.62x54R API B32 bullet used in the Russian Dragunov sniper rifle and PKM Machine Gun with belt feed! What if the Russians attack the Belgian coast? ... then the Level III++ bulletproof vests are too light as protection against Russian sniper and machine guns!

Hard ballistic plates NIJ 0101.04  Level IV Stand Alone

Level IV NIJ-0101.04 plate is heavier in weight, is standard certified against the NATO caliber 7.62x63 mm M2 AP (30-06) Armor Piercing and also offers protection against the lighter ammunition of protection level Level III++. The 7.62x63 mm AP M2 is more powerful than the 7.62x51 mm AP NATO cartridge. Sometimes referred to as (NIJ Level IV+). It is clear that there is a significant difference in protection value between Level III++ and Level IV! 

Hard ballistic plates NIJ 0101.06  Level IV Stand Alone

Level IV NIJ-0101.06 is an upgrade of NIJ-0101.04 plate and also offers protection against caliber 7.62x63 mm M2 AP (30-06) Armor Piercing, but with a greater velocity and higher bullet energy. A Level IV NIJ-0101.06 plate is slightly thicker than an NIJ-0101.04 plate, but does not necessarily weigh more.

Usually, Level IV NIJ-0101.06 plates also have an extension such as Level 4++, which can then refer to the typical Russian ammunition 7.62x54R API B32 used, among others, in the Russian Dragunov sniper rifle and PKM Machine Gun (MG) with belt feed. 

Russian Dragunov sniper rifle caliber 7.62x54R Luxury version

There are different types of hard ballistic plates in use by the Belgian Army, and it is of great importance for every individual soldier to know against which weapons and calibers his bulletproof vest or plate carrier offers protection! 

Many casualties occurred in Ukraine because their bulletproof vests were too light and could not withstand Russian sniper and machine guns.  

Kaliburn military bulletproof vest

Kaliburn bulletproof vest of the Belgian Army

The Kaliburn military bulletproof vest, supplied by a West Flemish company, contains a soft ballistic package with a hard ballistic plate in front. The soft ballistic packages primarily serve an anti-fragmentation function, and the hard ballistic plate can together stop a rifle bullet. The larger protection area, which is primarily anti-fragmentation, also offers more protection against drone bombs or other grenade fragments. This Kaliburn bulletproof vest is intended, among others, for military medical personnel. (alternative Multicam bulletproof vest PGD)

Our boys and girls from the military medical service have an increasingly important role in the treatment and survival chances of our wounded soldiers. The painful realization that severely wounded soldiers remain on the battlefield longer due to the abundance of hostile FPV drones means that medical soldiers must provide extensive first aid to severely wounded individuals directly on the battlefield and treat their wounds for several days before the casualties can be evacuated to a hospital. (Alternative pouches for Sturm and Kaliburn)

Backpacks are naturally an important piece of equipment, but I never quite understood why the Belgian Army chose a coyote Camelbak backpack with a Multicam uniform? This multicam backpack from Tasmanian Tiger was purchased with the soldier's own funds. Nowadays, more attention is also paid to the IR value (Infrared Reflection) of military equipment, which offers better protection against drone night vision devices.  

Five-seven pistol in a mid-ride belt holster

The fact that the Five-seven pistol and the 5.7x28mm caliber are not allowed in Belgium for the civilian market also means that many sport shooters cannot appreciate this pistol at its true value. Everyone knows that the small caliber 5.7mm has less stopping power than the 9x19mm NATO caliber. Regarding penetration power, every sport shooter believes that only the Five-seven pistol can penetrate soft bulletproof vests. However, there are also 9x19mm cartridges available on the military market that can penetrate soft bulletproof vests. 

The biggest advantage of the Five-seven pistol is its low recoil, which is only 2/3 of that of a 9x19mm cartridge. In military circles, shooting with one hand while the other hand is burdened with a heavy object (backpack or wounded casualty) is becoming increasingly important. Given that boys and girls as young as 18 can perform military service, the low recoil of the Five-seven pistol is a significant advantage compared to the 9x19mm caliber. 

Regarding the low stopping power and mission failures of the 5.7x28mm caliber, there are just as many known stories of the 9x19mm caliber and the .45 ACP cartridge failing to immediately incapacitate an attacker with a few shots. Hitting a vital organ is the only important factor that can immediately incapacitate an attacker, not the size of the bullet! Therefore, the technique of multiple hits on target is the most successful way to neutralize an aggressor. With the low recoil of the 5.7x28mm cartridge, this is a particular advantage for young soldiers to successfully place multiple hits on target!

This does not mean that the 5.7x28mm caliber is also ideal for strong, experienced soldiers. Heavier calibers can have other advantages, such as greater stopping power or greater penetration power. 

The Lombardsijde Barracks as the first line of air defense. 

The deployment of military personnel to various barracks and quarters across Belgian territory makes Belgium more resilient against all kinds of drones. There is also a large drone and anti-drone department at the military quarter in Lombardsijde.

Different drones

There are both fixed-wing drones in Lombardsijde and quadcopter or FPV drones.

FPV drones (First Person View) and quadcopter reconnaissance drones currently dominate the battlefield. The development of small, lethal drones is progressing rapidly and today they pose the biggest threat on the battlefield.

Anti-drone defense

The Belgian army has recently made significant investments in new drone and air defenses. During the open day in Lombardsijde, the following anti-drone systems were showcased.

DroneShield's anti-drone guns are quite successful on the battlefield. They can disrupt the radio connection and GPS signal of enemy drones, causing them to fall or return to their starting point.

The Origin Roboticx counterdrone interceptor is a quite successful solution for physically intercepting and neutralizing enemy drones without having to fire very expensive missiles from an F35 fighter jet.

The Mistral M3 anti-aircraft missiles were already in service with the Belgian Army and still provide good air defense against low-flying helicopters and drones.

What did we miss?

The battlefield in Ukraine is dominated by fiber optic drones that cause significant damage and many casualties. Fiber optic drones cannot be jammed by all sorts of anti-drone guns or personal jammers. While it may be annoying that a long thin fiber optic cable would be left behind, the presence of fiber optic drones would also influence a realistic anti-drone defense against the most deadly drones currently used on the battlefield. The shotguns, which form the basic kinetic anti-drone protection for every individual soldier, were also not on display.

Currently, only a small number of anti-drone shotguns are present at the Lombardsijde camp, loaded and ready to shoot down FPV drones.

It is rather annoying that in a West Flemish military quarter like Lombardsijde, a patch from the Walloon FN-Herstal is worn, especially since FN Herstal, together with BSDI, opposes the emergence of a Flemish arms industry (origin of FSDIP), to such an extent that Flemish companies were threatened that they would lose their connections and supply contracts if they collaborated on a Flemish arms industry!

Artillery department

The field artillery batteries in Lombardsijde are equipped with 105 mm Howitzer cannons that can deploy serious firepower. The Belgian Army has also ordered new 155mm CAESAR cannons.

The Lombardsijde barracks also possess 120 mm mortars. Mobile mortars have caused a large number of casualties in Ukraine and are still very effective against enemy infantry.

It's great that the Belgian Army in West Flanders also pays attention to heavy sniper rifles such as this Barrett M82 in .50 BMG caliber. West Flanders has large flat open plains where sniper rifles can play an important role. Considering that the Russians have adopted a large number of new sniper rifles in .338 Lapua Magnum caliber, our .308 sniper rifles are a bit on the light side, but this Barrett in .50 BMG caliber has an advantage in power and range.

Transport

Much interest in a ride with the ATF Dingo II

and also much interest in a ride with the new Oshkosh-CLV jeep.

Numerous other vehicles were also present, such as the new DAF CF Military trucks and several tracked vehicles.

Our alternative products

The military equipment purchased by the Belgian Army in Belgium is exclusively for the Belgian Army and is not available on the private market. Therefore, we present some of the latest new products that sometimes have better properties than the products purchased by Defense several years ago.

Multicam combat uniform

UF-PRO Striker XT combat trousers Gen. 3 Multicam combat trousers

UF PRO Striker XT Combat Shirt Gen.3 Multicam

UF PRO products have built an international reputation and are widely used on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Multicam plate carrier

The various plate carriers from Warrior Assault Systems

Warrior Assault Systems plate carriers are also widely used in Ukraine. An important feature is that these products have a low IR value (Infrared Reflection), which makes them difficult to see at night by drone night vision devices. There are two sizes with two sizes of hard plates. It is no longer current that everyone wears a standard hard bulletproof plate of 250x300mm. There are standard plates and Size Small, Medium, Large, and XLarge hard bulletproof plates. We also have Multicam pouches with low IR value.

Multicam bulletproof vest

The various products from Protection Group Denmark

As a Multicam bulletproof vest, we have the FRAG from PGD (Protection Group Denmark), for which a basic package and various additional protection can be ordered. 80% of casualties at the front are caused by grenade fragments, whether or not dropped by an FPV drone. Hence, the minimalist plate carrier at the front in Ukraine is making way for a bulletproof vest with as extensive fragmentation protection as possible.

Hard bulletproof plates

Small bulletproof side plates 152x152mm NIJ-4 SA

Small long bulletproof side plates 152x200mm NIJ-4 SA

Light bulletproof plates NIJ-III+ IC 250x300mm

Bulletproof plates NIJ-4++ (0101.06) SA 250x300mm Size S-M-L-XL

Various types of hard bulletproof plates are available. The trick is to get them in time! There is only a limited supply of hard bulletproof plates and if a crisis breaks out, they are all reserved for the government. Then it becomes virtually impossible for private individuals to purchase hard bulletproof plates.