People's Republic of China
Spain
PROTEA™- 01.
A TRUE
HYBRIDPROTEA™ hybridises ballistic material engineering, providing the freedom of movement of woven fabrics with the trauma mitigation and stopping power of unidirectional laminates without compromises.
- 02.
UNPARALLELED FLEXIBILITY
Thanks to the unique material construction, the PROTEA™ layup can conform to compound curves, allowing it to contour to the body and bend seamlessly in all directions simultaneously.
- 03.
PERFECT CONCEALMENT
With a profile just above 5 millimetres, the PROTEA™ layup is roughly equivalent to two euro coins stacked on top of each other in thickness and vastly thinner than any modern smartphone.
Traditional woven ballistic fabrics provide some of the most flexible ballistic solutions. However, they fall short when mitigating energy from high-speed and high-density projectiles due to the individual yarns needing to interlock before they can begin catching the projectile.
Unidirectional ballistic laminates solve this issue by laminating the yarns in a no-crimp state, catching the projectiles from the moment they interface with the material. This, however, usually comes at the expense of flexibility and sometimes weight, as the lamination adds additional material to each ballistic layer.
The unique fabric construction used in our PROTEA™ layup seamlessly combines the best of both worlds, delivering the same flexibility as a woven fabric with the exceptional trauma mitigation and stopping power of a unidirectional laminate, with none of the downsides of either.
VPAM PM Ed. 3, Annex 6.6.2
3 shots of 9x19mm DM41 FMJ get fired at 415 m/s with 25mm spacing in an equilateral triangle.
DISCLAIMER: These illustrations are meant as a visual aid and are not drawn to conform to their respective standards.
We carry out an additional test beyond the scope of VPAM BSW 2006 based on the VPAM PM standard for all of our layups.
The test is usually intended for hard armour and calls for three shots to be placed in an equilateral triangle spaced up to 5, or at a minimum of 3 caliber diameters apart for the tested threat.
We use a standard spacing between each round of 25 mm to test against a 'worst-case' scenario.
VPAM BSW 2006, Annex 6.10
1 shot of 9x19mm DM41 FMJ gets fired at 415 m/s, impacting 25mm from the edge of the panel.
DISCLAIMER: These illustrations are meant as a visual aid and are not drawn to conform to their respective standards.
Specifically for protection classes 1 through 3, the VPAM BSW 2006 calls for an extra edge shot to be tested without any backface deformation measurements necessary.
The standard calls for the hit to be 30 ±5 mm from the outer edge of the sample and at least 75 mm from any corners.
We carry out our test edge shots 25 mm from the edge.
VPAM BSW 2006 Annex 3.1
3 shots of 9x19mm DM41 FMJ get fired at 415 m/s impacting 75mm apart in the pattern of an equilateral triangle.
DISCLAIMER: These illustrations are meant as a visual aid and are not drawn to conform to their respective standards.
Classes 1 through 3 get shot 3 times per test sample in an equilateral triangle pattern with 75mm between each vertex.
Backface deformation is measured after each shot, and the measured deformation has to be ≤22 mm for each shot.
For threat levels 4 and 5, backface deformation is not measured.
All tests are carried out on the same 25x25 cm commercial sample panel.
If you want to test a panel for yourself, discounted sample panels are available here.
NOTE: Illustrated with body-side at the top, descending downwards towards the strike-face at the bottom.
The above widget only illustrates layup composition and is not an accurate representation of layer count or relative thickness.
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Our PROTEA™ material combines no-crimp woven Twaron® ultra-microfilament yarn with an incredibly low resin infusion, resulting in a thin, very flexible laminate consisting of two woven layers which are dimensionally bound with high-tenacity PES threads and laminated together.
Copyright © Teijin Aramid B.V. All rights reserved.
Constructing our fabric this way prevents an intruding projectile from pushing the yarns apart on impact, just like a unidirectional laminate, while allowing the entire assembly to move like a woven.
CONCEAL YOUR ARMOUR EFFORTLESSLY
Because of the ultra-microfilament yarns used, the PROTEA™ layup boasts an incredibly slim profile at just over 5 millimetres (0.2"), allowing it to easily conceal even under light clothing. This makes it ideal for use in covert and undercover operations where armour printing can have fatal consequences.
Thanks to the unmatched flexibility of the layup, the compression bulges traditionally seen with unidirectional armour solutions can be avoided entirely, as the entire panel can contour to the body. This helps keep your silhouette intact from all angles while also helping distribute the wearing load of the armour, lowering fatigue.
COMPLETE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
As the PROTEA™ layup is as flexible as a woven solution but with a significantly thinner profile, it is exceptionally well suited for those with curvilinear body features, such as personnel with busts.
Thanks to its freedom of movement, the layup can be donned without any uncomfortable hotspots or pinching, allowing it to be worn intensively with a high degree of comfort.
INDUSTRY-LEADING WEAR RESISTANCE
We use a unique cover material made of lightweight, abrasion-resistant polyamide face fabric coated with a durable water-repellent. Our internal liner is TPU-based and features UV-blocking pigment to protect the ballistic materials from photooxidation caused by the sun's UV radiation, ensuring consistent performance throughout the insert's lifespan, no matter the environment.
Our two-stage sealing process ensures that every insert is safe from hydrolytic degradation from water, vapour, or general moisture. We accomplish this by pre-sealing the edges in custom-made moulds for consistency, sealing potential leaks from material bending and creasing before finishing the edges using an ultrasonic welding process to fuse the cover materials together.
A CUT FOR EVERY OPERATOR
Thanks to our just-in-time manufacturing approach and the fact that all of our operations are handled in-house, we can offer a large selection of standardised cuts, layouts and sizes so that you can find just the right fit.
If you want a custom cut, please refer to our OEM/ODM page for more information.
- Areal Density 5.5 kg/m² (1.13 lb/ft²)
- Thickness 5.2 mm (0.2")
- ¹ Flexibility 230 N (51.70 lbf)
- CORE Dimensionally PES stitched Twaron® microfilaments
- Resin Polyethylene
- Thread Dyneema® SK75
- Cover DWR & TPU coated Polyamide
- Supplier Overview View Here
- Standards NIJ 0101.07 & VPAM BSW 2006
- Threat Rating HG2 & VPAM 3
- Country of Origin Denmark
- Warranty (Properties) 7 years
- Warranty (workmanship) 2 years
- ¹ Per ASTM D4032-92 PROUDLY MADE IN EUROPE
SPECIFICATIONS
PROTEA™ DATA
MATERIALS
GENERAL INFORMATION
THREAT OVERVIEW
| STANDARD | PLATFORM | PROJECTILE | WEIGHT | VELOCITY | VARIANCE | TRAUMA LIMIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPAM BSW 2006 |  Handgun | 9×19mm (FMJ² RN⁵ SC⁶) | 8g (124 gr) | 415 m/s (1360 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | < 22mm (< 0.8") |
| VPAM BSW 2006 | Handgun | .357 Mag. (FMJ² CB⁸ SC⁶) | 10.2g (158 gr) | 430 m/s (1360 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | NA |
| VPAM BSW 2006 |  Handgun | 44 Rem. Mag. (FMJ² FN³ SC⁶) | 15.6g (240 gr) | 440 m/s (1445 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | NA |
| NIJ 0101.07 (NIJ 0123.00) | Handgun | 9×19mm (FMJ² RN⁵) | 8g (124 gr) | 448 m/s (1470 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | < 44mm (< 1.7") |
| NIJ 0101.07 (NIJ 0123.00) | Handgun | .357 Mag. (JSP¹) | 10.2g (158 gr) | 436 m/s (1430 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | < 44mm (< 1.7") |
| SPECIAL |  Handgun | .40 S&W (FMJ²) | 11.6g (180 gr) | 352 m/s (1155 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | < 44mm (< 1.7") |
| SPECIAL | Handgun | .357 SIG (FMJ² FN³) | 8g (125 gr) | 448 m/s (1470 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | < 44mm (< 1.7") |
| NIJ 0101.07 (NIJ 0123.00) | Handgun | .44 Mag. (SJHP⁴) | 15.5g (240 gr) | 436 m/s (1430 fps) | ±10 m/s (±30 fps) | < 44mm (< 1.7") |
¹ Jacketed Soft Point, ² Full Metal Jacketed, ³ Flat Nose, ⁴ Semi Jacketed Hollow Point, ⁵ Round Nose, ⁶ Lead Soft Core, ⁷ Lead Free Hollow Point, ⁸ Coned Bullet
WARNING: Certain powder, projectile and barrel length combinations will exceed the capabilities of this armour.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. All of our listings are for a single item.
This allows you to pick out separate sizes and cuts depending on your usecase(s).
All of our products, including these, are manufactured by us in Denmark.
We take great pride in manufacturing everything in-house ourselves, using materials that are made in the EU or the US exclusively.
Almost.
We have shipping agreements with major providers to all NATO allied countries but do ship outside of NATO as well.
Under no circumstances can we ship goods to embargoed or sanctioned countries.
For a complete overview, please refer to our shipping page.
If you already own an armour carrier, please refer to the manufacturer or any documentation that came with it to find the appropriate size.
If this is your first armour purchase, please measure your chest circumference at the pecs. You can reference our sizing guide here for suggestions. Please note that the table changes depending on your product configuration at the top.
The most important aspect is that the insert covers your heart, lungs, kidneys and diaphragm. To ensure these vitals are covered, the insert should span from your sternum notch to 2 cm above your naval, and at its widest, should roughly equate to the distance between your pecs.
According to our warranty, 7 years.
This is an estimate we've set to ensure the protective properties are sustained throughout the insert's entire lifecycle. Proper maintenance and care will ensure the insert will provide protection significantly past its expiration date.
Not at all.
Many things can affect the durability of an insert, including materials, moisture exposure, heat, creasing and storage conditions.
Inserts with intact covers that have been properly cared for, and have not been subjected to unreasonable environmental or storage conditions, can provide like-new protection for years past their expiration.
That said, after an insert leaves our facilities, we can no longer guarantee its handling. Because of this, we've limited the recommended wear period to 5 years, and have a warranty which backs up this decision.
This depends on the round in question and the referenced standard.
We test our inserts against both the VPAM and NIJ standards, which call for different shot spacing and the number of rounds.
For VPAM threats, we shoot our panels 7 times. 3 of these hits have 75 mm spacing in an equilateral triangle in accordance with Annex 3.1 of VPAM BSW2006. The consequent 3 shots follow the same pattern but have 25 mm spacing to test true multi-hit performance. The last round is fired 30 mm from the edge of the panel, to ensure edge-hit protection.
For NIJ threats, the panel is shot 6 times with equal spacing between each shot and the edge of the insert in accordance with NIJ 0101.07.
Not officially, no.
Certification for either standard is incredibly resource intensive, requiring five-digit upfront laboratory fees, and for the VPAM specifically, close to hundreds of sample panels for testing.
It is something we are striving towards, however.
We do have all of our lots independently tested at NIJ or VPAM-accredited laboratories in the Netherlands and Germany against the required threats for each respective standard.
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30-DAY
RETURN PERIOD*
Wrong size? Wrong fit? Free size exchanges for 30 days.
* Please refer to our return and refund policy for more information.
We care enormously about bringing you the best solution for your use case. If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at the e-mail below.
