When purchasing an armoured car it is essential that the capability of the vehicle matches the perceived threat to the occupants or assets within. Along with varying levels of armouring there are different armouring standards which dictate how the ballistic integrity of the armoured car is tested, from low levels which test the materials in isolation to whole vehicle standards which test both the materials used and how they are integrated in to the vehicle.
There are a number of different armouring standards exist with some being applicable to geographical areas or the type of vehicle you are purchasing. A big change within the last 20 years has been the emergence of VPAM’s Bullet Resistant Vehicle (BRV) specification which certifies the vehicle as a whole, as opposed to the materials used. This gives higher assurance that supporting components and the installation of the armouring materials matches the threats. Common standards include:
Though this is the most common standard in the world, with armoured cars quoted as B1-7 armoured, it is not an official standard. Typically it is a combination of the European ballistic standards for transparent materials, e.g. glass (BR, EN1063) and opaque materials, e.g. ballistic steel or kevlar (FB, EN1522).
Vereinigung der Prüfstellen für angriffshemmende Materialien und Konstruktionen (English Translation: Association of Testing Laboratories for Attack-Resistant Materials and Structures), commonly abbreviated to VPAM, is a conglomerate of European ballistic testing companies whom have released their own standards. Current VPAM standards include:
STANAG 4569 is a NATO standard for light armoured vehicles with 5 specification levels. As it is a military standard the specifications typically require protection to higher levels than those of other armouring standards.
Set by the National Institute of Justice, this is a U.S. standard originally intended for body armour but is also used for opaque materials used in vehicles. The standard has 5 specification levels, from handguns to high powered rifles.
