The Small Armor Protective Plates (SAPI) which meant to be worn in both the front and back. These level IV alumina plates are used to increase rating of ballistic vest rated IIIA to level IV rating when these plates used in conjunction with the bullet proof vest.
As all our body armor products as these plates been optimally designed and checked to ensure quality and consistency of standards. Alumina or aluminum oxide has an extensive application especially in the ceramic industry for providing extra strength.
These ceramic plates have also been designed with ultra-strong polyethylene (PE) fibers for optimum strength. These plates are ideal for any level IIIA compliant vest that has external pockets of 10x12Inch for armor plates.
These plates that weight 3.7kg are much lighter than plates made out of metals like steel or titanium provided that the comparison is between plates of the same level of ballistic protection. Also the ceramic plates are also comparatively safer as they absorb the bullet and do not let it split to smaller pieces with potential to hit nearby people as can happen with metal plates.
The SAPI level IV ceramic armor plates works by blunting a high-velocity bullet on impact, after that, it helps to spread the kinetic energy of the bullet around the plate as a concentration of energy at a single point could lead to undesirable conditions like blunt force trauma.
The plates come in a single curve, and the main advantage is that the curves or contours enable the plates to fit into the chest and back of the wearer, thereby allowing for more mobility and smartness as the plates align into the wearer’s breast and shoulder blades.
Although, not all military personal mandated to wear IV armor plates with their bulletproof vests, but who values his or her life should do the wise thing by always wearing this level IV plates especially in combat as they could be faced with armor piercing rounds when it is least expected.