Protective bulletproof vest. Bulletproof vests: classification, legends, myths and reality Excellent protection against firearms

All protective structures of body armor can be divided into five groups, depending on the materials used:

Textile (woven) armor based on aramid fibers

Today, ballistic fabrics based on aramid fibers are the basic material for civilian and military body armor. Ballistic fabrics are produced in many countries of the world and differ significantly not only in names, but also in characteristics. Abroad, these are Kevlar (USA) and Twaron (Europe), and in Russia - a number of aramid fibers, which differ markedly from American and European ones in their chemical properties.

What is aramid fiber? Aramid looks like thin yellow gossamer fibers (other colors are very rarely used). Aramid threads are woven from these fibers, and ballistic fabric is subsequently made from the threads. Aramid fiber has a very high mechanical strength.

Most experts in the field of body armor development believe that the potential of Russian aramid fibers has not yet been fully realized. For example, armor structures made from our aramid fibers are superior to foreign ones in terms of "protection characteristics / weight". And some composite structures in this indicator are no worse than structures made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). At the same time, the physical density of UHMWPE is 1.5 times less.

Ballistic fabric brands:

• Kevlar ® (DuPont, USA)
• Twaron ® (Teijin Aramid, Netherlands)
• SVM, RUSAR® (Russia)
• Heracron® (Colon, Korea)

Metal armor based on steel (titanium) and aluminum alloys

After a long break from the days of medieval armor, armor plates were made of steel and were widely used during the First and Second World Wars. Light alloys began to be used later. For example, during the war in Afghanistan, body armor with elements of armor aluminum and titanium became widespread. Modern armor alloys make it possible to reduce the thickness of panels by two to three times compared to panels made of steel, and, consequently, reduce the weight of the product by two to three times.

Aluminum armor. Aluminum outperforms steel armor, providing protection against 12.7mm or 14.5mm AP bullets. In addition, aluminum is provided with a raw material base, is more technologically advanced, welds well and has a unique anti-fragmentation and anti-mine protection.

titanium alloys. The main advantage of titanium alloys is the combination of corrosion resistance and high mechanical properties. To obtain a titanium alloy with predetermined properties, it is alloyed with chromium, aluminum, molybdenum and other elements.

Ceramic armor based on composite ceramic elements

Since the beginning of the 80s, ceramic materials have been used in the production of armored clothing, surpassing metals in terms of the "degree of protection / weight" ratio. However, the use of ceramics is only possible in combination with ballistic fiber composites. At the same time, it is necessary to solve the problem of low survivability of such armored panels. Also, it is not always possible to effectively realize all the properties of ceramics, since such an armored panel requires careful handling.

In the Russian Ministry of Defense, the task of high survivability of ceramic armor panels was identified back in the 1990s. Until then, ceramic armor panels were much inferior to steel ones in this indicator. Thanks to this approach, today Russian troops have a reliable design - armored panels of the "Granit-4" family.

The bulk of body armor abroad consists of composite armor panels, which are made from solid ceramic monoplates. The reason for this is that for a soldier during combat operations, the chance of being repeatedly hit in the area of ​​​​the same armor panel is extremely small. Secondly, such products are much more technologically advanced; less labor-intensive, and hence their cost is much lower than the cost of a set of smaller tiles.

Used elements:

• Aluminum oxide (corundum);
• Boron carbide;
• Silicon carbide.

Composite armor based on high modulus polyethylene (laminated plastic)

To date, armor panels based on UHMWPE fibers (ultra-high-modulus polyethylene) are considered the most advanced type of armored clothing from class 1 to 3 (in terms of weight).

UHMWPE fibers have high strength, catching up with aramid ones. Ballistic products made of UHMWPE have positive buoyancy and do not lose their protective properties, unlike aramid fibers. However, UHMWPE is completely unsuitable for the manufacture of body armor for the army. In military conditions, there is a high probability that the bulletproof vest will come into contact with fire or hot objects. Moreover, body armor is often used as bedding. And UHMWPE, no matter what properties it has, still remains polyethylene, the maximum operating temperature of which does not exceed 90 degrees Celsius. However, UHMWPE is excellent for making police vests.

It is worth noting that a soft armor panel made of a fibrous composite is not capable of providing protection against bullets with a carbide or heat-strengthened core. The maximum that a soft fabric structure can provide is protection from pistol bullets and shrapnel. To protect against bullets from long-barreled weapons, it is necessary to use armored panels. When exposed to a bullet from a long-barreled weapon, a high concentration of energy is created in a small area, moreover, such a bullet is a sharp striking element. Soft fabrics in bags of reasonable thickness will no longer hold them. That is why it is advisable to use UHMWPE in a structure with a composite base of armored panels.

The main suppliers of UHMWPE aramid fibers for ballistic products are:

• Dyneema® (DSM, Netherlands)
• Spectra® (USA)

Combined (layered) armor

Materials for body armor of the combined type are selected depending on the conditions in which the body armor will be used. NIB developers combine the materials used and use them together - thus, it was possible to significantly improve the protective properties of body armor. Textile-metal, ceramic-organoplastic and other types of combined armor are widely used today throughout the world.

The level of protection of body armor varies depending on the materials used in it. However, today not only the materials for bulletproof vests themselves play a decisive role, but also special coatings. Thanks to the advances in nanotechnology, models are already being developed whose impact resistance has been increased many times over while significantly reducing thickness and weight. This possibility arises due to the application of a special gel with nano-cleaners to the hydrophobized Kevlar, which increases the resistance of Kevlar to dynamic impact by five times. Such armor can significantly reduce the size of the body armor, while maintaining the same protection class.

Read about the classification of PPE.

Bulletproof vest is a means of individual protection of the body and the most important organs of a person, when exposed to cold and firearms, as well as fragments of ammunition. The bulletproof vest not only protects against enemy fire, but also allows you to more boldly and effectively use your own weapons.

In Russia, protective body armor is subject to a special set of requirements, which is defined by GOST R 50744-95. The total area of ​​body armor protection should provide protection for at least 90% of the area of ​​vital organs in the dorsal and frontal projections. The area of ​​bulletproof armored reinforcement panels must be at least 22 dm2.

The design of the bulletproof vest consists of the following elements:

Outer case with fastening and adjustment system,

The main armor elements,

shock absorber,

Armor material as part of a shock-absorbing pad and cover.

Outer case forms the appearance of a body armor (like a poncho) and consists of chest and back parts, which are interconnected by shoulder and waist belts, allowing the body armor to be adjusted to the user's figure. This design of the bulletproof vest facilitates access to the human body in case of injury and reduces the required number of sizes, although it reduces the comfort of wearing, as well as protection from the sides. IN Lately instead of adjusting straps in vests, zippers, buttons or Velcro are increasingly used. The cover material has a heat-resistant and waterproof fabric base that serves to accommodate ballistic panels. The cover can be equipped with pockets similar to the unloading vest, and items placed in its pockets can in some cases serve as additional protection.

Inside, the bulletproof vest is equipped with a shock-absorbing pad (damper) with special channels to improve ventilation and provide additional comfort to the user. In addition, such a structure of the damper reduces the armor impact of bullets and shrapnel on the human body.

* Protection of Clients' property, as well as the life and health of citizens from unlawful encroachments in Moscow and the Moscow region (private security in Moscow), using weapons, special equipment and body armor, is one of the main activities of the group security companies"TAGGERD" (CHOP Moscow).

Body armor protection classes

Bulletproof vests differ in the possibility of use, as well as in protection classes. Domestic classification according to Russian GOST R 50744-95 includes 10 classes: special, 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 5a, 6, 6a. Moreover, the higher the class, the better and higher the level of protection. Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6a represent the level of protection against pistol and rifle bullets rifled weapons. At the same time, protection of a certain class implies protection from the means defined by smaller classes, that is, protection from any lesser threat relative to that for which the bulletproof vest is designed. PSCs mainly use 3, 4 protection classes.

0th grade(or "special") - determines the protection against edged weapons.

1st class c - protects against soft shell-free bullets of 5.6 mm, from pistol bullets of 6.35 mm "Browning", PM - at point-blank range, from buckshot and small fragments weighing up to 2-3 g, from edged weapons such as a bayonet-knife , dagger, sharpening. The protected area is 30-40 dm2, weight - 1.5-2.5 kg.

2nd grade- protects against shell bullets of pistol and revolver cartridges such as PSM, PM, TT, Nagant - point-blank range, from shot from a hunting rifle and from edged weapons. These bulletproof vests are made of 7-10 layers of fabric with a density of 6-10 kg/m2 of protected area. Weight - 3-5 kg.

3rd grade- protects against point-blank bullets from AKM and AK-74 assault rifles, from ordinary steel-core TT cartridge bullets, bullets from reinforced pistol and revolver cartridges of the Magnum type, bullets from smooth-bore hunting rifles, as well as from all types of edged weapons. Protected area - 40-60 sq.dm, protective material density - 12-15 kg/m2. There are pockets for additional plates. Weight - 6-9 kg,

4th grade- protects against bullets of the AK-74 machine gun ordinary (steel heat-strengthened) point blank, from bullets of caliber 5.45 and 7.62 mm with a soft core at a distance of 10 m. The average density of the material is up to 30 kg / sq.m. Usually, 4th class body armor is obtained from 3rd class by replacing armor elements. Weight - about 10 kg,

5th grade- protects against AKM with a PS bullet (heat-strengthened steel core, hardened steel), SVD with an LPS bullet (heat-strengthened steel core, hardened steel) at close range, AK-74 with BS (armor-piercing carbide), non-armor-piercing bullets 5.45- and 7, 62-mm cartridges at a distance of 5 m, armor-piercing - 10 m, pistol - at close range. Such models are popularly called "Anti-Kalashnikov". Material density - up to 35 kg/m2, protected area - 40-60 dm2, but can be increased by fastening the neck and groin sections. Weight - 11-20 kg.

6th grade- SVD with TUS (heat-strengthened steel), SVD with BS or B-32 (armor-piercing carbide). This class of body armor is intended mainly for special forces and law enforcement agencies.

Bulletproof vests of classes 1 and 2 are of the “flexible” (“soft”) type and are designed, as a rule, for concealed wear under clothing. The same classes include civilian samples of armored clothing, designed as fur jackets, vests, sweaters, fur coats. Bulletproof vests of 3-4 classes have plug-in "hard" armor elements and a shock-absorbing lining (damper) that dampens dynamic impact. There are also NIBs with a differentiated level of protection.

The damaging properties of weapons and ammunition when it hits a person dressed in body armor, according to the nature of the impact, are divided into penetrating and dynamic. Penetrating lesions are formed when a bullet enters the body. Dynamic - from a blow to the body due to a sharp stop of the bullet by the shield of the vest.

The reliability of body armor is mainly determined by two criteria: the ability to prevent or reduce to a safe penetrating and dynamic lesions, as they can be traumatic and deadly.

There are 3 levels of damage to body armor:
- Maximum allowable (PD) - the vest is not pierced by a bullet, but the fabric of the vest, together with the bullet, is introduced into the body, or is pierced by a bullet at the end, i.e. with loss of lethal force.
- Medium (C) - the vest is not pierced by a bullet, its fabric does not penetrate into the body.
- Minimum (M) - the vest is not pierced by a bullet, its fabric is not embedded in the body.

The dynamic impact of a bullet on a person using a bulletproof vest in all cases is reduced to a safe level by increasing the area of ​​its perception and / or the time the bullet stops.

For bulletproof vests, 4 main sizes are installed (chest girth / height):
- 1st - 96-104 cm / up to 176 cm,
- 2nd - 104-112 cm / 176-182 cm,
- 3rd -112-120 cm / over 182 cm,
- 4th - 120-130 cm / St. 182 cm

The whole variety of protective materials used in body armor can be divided into 5 types:
- textile (woven) armor;
- metal armor;
- ceramic armor;
- composite armor;
- combined armor.

In accordance with the materials used, the design of the body armor can be "hard" (hard), "soft" or combined. Most often, the NIB uses a combined type of armor, consisting of solid parts of the structure - metal plates and soft armor, which is fabric packages (body armor).

Armored vests of soft design consist of protective packages based on 15-30 layers of ballistic fabric made of super-strong and light aramid fibers (such as Nomex, Kevlar, Terlon, SVM). Such a bulletproof vest provides satisfactory protection only against low-energy striking elements (ordinary bullets of pistol cartridges of low power) and edged bladed weapons. The threads in aramid fabrics are pulled out under the influence of a bullet and due to its high breaking energy, extinguishing its speed and holding it in the body armor. In this case, there is always no ricochet and fragments are not formed. However, many experts are not very happy with the effectiveness of the protection of vests made of aramid fibers, and with good reason.

Bulletproof vests of a rigid (solid) design are used to protect against more powerful striking elements - fragments and bullets with greater kinetic energy. The design of such NIB has, in addition to the "soft" component, hard armor - special armor plates, consisting of alloys of steel, titanium, aluminum, manganese, ceramics, ultra-high-modulus polyethylene (UHMWPE), nanomaterials. The armor elements are overlapped in special anti-fragmentation anti-ricochet pockets, from which they can be easily removed and inserted into others, thereby changing the protection class of the body armor. The most massive protective (ballistic) packages are able to withstand ordinary bullets of modern machine guns (assault rifles) chambered for 5.45 x 39, 5.56 x 45, 7.62 x 39 when firing at close range (tens of meters).

Metal armor elements are usually made of steel "44" with a thickness of:

for the 1st class - 1mm, for the 2nd class - 2.4mm, for the 3rd class - 4.3mm, for the 4th class - 5.8mm, for the 5th class - 6.5mm, for 6 th class - 15mm.

The two-fold difference between the 2nd and 3rd classes in thickness is determined by the fact that the 2nd class protects against a TT pistol with an energy of 508 J, and the 3rd class protects against AKM, the muzzle energy of which is almost 4 times greater with the same caliber. The difference is more than 2 times whiter in thickness between grades 5 and 6 due to the fact that an ordinary SVD bullet breaks when it hits a steel plate, and an armor-piercing one pierces. Therefore, to protect against small arms TUS and BS, steel as the front layer of protection is not effective and ceramics are used instead, when hit by a bullet, it first flattens, and then tries to push through the steel plate.

Depending on the degree of protection and the armor materials used, bulletproof vests also have different weights. According to the mass, bulletproof vests are divided into light (up to 5 kg), medium (5-10 kg) and heavy (over 11 kg).

The main disadvantages of body armor

Certified NIBs must ensure that injuries, when hit by bullets of their class, will not be fatal. Russian GOST requires that injuries do not exceed the 2nd degree of severity, i.e. the man received nothing more than a serious bruise. However, no body armor provides one hundred percent protection against more serious injuries and damage. For example, when hit by a bullet that exceeds the NIB protection class, a situation is possible when the body armor will stop the bullet, but the person will receive fatal injuries. From a strong impact of a bullet on a bulletproof vest, a person can lose consciousness, get serious concussion injuries, and even lead to lethal outcome. A dynamic impact from a medium caliber bullet can knock a person down. And if a bullet hits the chest, solar plexus or heart, then the force of the blow can lead to not only bruises and bruises, but also to fractures of one or more ribs and even death.

Parts of deformed bullets, fragments of a ballistic package, as well as any parts that are torn off when a bullet or fragment hits a bulletproof vest, which can ricochet a person into any open part of the body, are also dangerous.

In addition to these shortcomings, most bulletproof vests have problems with armor or behind-the-barrier bullet displacement. Armor offset appears when a bullet hits a bulletproof vest. According to Russian standards, this displacement should not exceed 20 millimeters. According to experts, in many cases of death, if there were no body armor and if the bullet had not hit vital organs, the person would have survived. It is not uncommon for an AK-74 or M16 rifle bullet to punch through body armor, change direction and go through the entire body. Even if the vest does not penetrate, but the armor bends inward, this can cause serious concussion injuries, even death.

By the way, the latest bullets with a core of increased hardness, as well as Teflon-coated bullets, can penetrate any of the known types of bulletproof vests that are not equipped with special additional protection. And almost no modern bulletproof vest can protect against armor-piercing bullets of rifle and machine-gun cartridges when firing at close range. This is the limit for body armor, because. in addition to the increased mass of special equipment, the impulse from the absorbed energy becomes unbearable for a person.

Cause serious criticism of specialists and materials used in the NIB. Main disadvantage aramid fabrics is that their protective ability drops sharply with increasing speed of the penetrating element. They practically do not protect against bullets and fragments flying at a speed of over 500 m / s, although they are extremely effective against secondary fragments and slowly flying elements. A serious disadvantage of aramid fabrics is that they pass sharp thin elements between the fibers, such as a stylet, sharpening, awl, etc., which easily pierce almost any number of layers of aramid fabric. Also, the disadvantages of armid fiber include the fact that the material loses its properties when wet. Aramid fibers, by themselves, absorb moisture, while losing up to 40% of their strength, which weakens the protection. Only quite recently, fabrics began to be impregnated with various resins (epoxy, polyester).

The purpose of the bulletproof vest is to protect the human body (namely, the upper body - the torso). Thanks to the high-strength materials from which it is made, it is able to keep intact the most vital organs located in the abdominal cavity and chest. Usually protective device consists of materials with saving qualities - protection from bullets and shrapnel, as well as dissipation of their energy.

The materials that are most often used to create bulletproof vests include: Kevlar, aramid, steel, titanium, ceramic plates. For Russian companies sewing bulletproof vests, the use of such ballistic fabric as Kevlar is most typical.

Bulletproof vests are sewn from 30-50 layers of ballistic fabric and batting (for a damper cushion), and all details without exception are stitched with reinforced threads. The final stage of creating a suit is that armored elements (plates, steel or ceramics) are inserted into pre-prepared pockets.

The more layers the vest is made of, the more reliably it protects a person, however, in proportion to this, the ability to move quickly is lost due to the increasing weight of the product. Therefore, manufacturers are trying to find golden mean.

It is worth distinguishing a bulletproof vest from an armored suit (used for special purposes by sappers, for example).

What are the types of body armor

According to the established standard, bulletproof vests are divided into three types: A, B and C. Type "A" is a bulletproof vest based on fabric (so-called soft or flexible). Semi-rigid body armor, based on armored metal plates, belongs to type "B". And type "B" is a highly protective body armor (based on hard plates made of special armored metal).

Classification in Russia has 10 classes of body armor: 0, 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 5a, 6, 6a. Each of the classes assumes a certain level of protection against firearms and edged weapons and means operation under various levels threats (for example, 0 is protection from melee weapons). Thus, a flexible bulletproof vest of type "A" is unlikely to protect the ZhVO from firearms that can even penetrate its base, but it will protect it from the penetration of edged bladed weapons. Today there are a large number of models of body armor from various manufacturers.

Features of body armor

Body armor is not a weak load, it is very difficult to wear it for a long time. The weight of the body armor can be from 2 to 20 kg. It complicates rapid movement and exerts strong pressure on the body, and as a result of impaired heat transfer, it can cause heat stroke and loss of consciousness. The constant use of body armor adversely affects health. Despite a high degree protection, bulletproof vests do not protect against armored contusion injury as a result of armored displacement.

To begin with, let's figure out who and why is required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in the service. Such a prescription exists in the regulatory documents of several departments at once and is carefully monitored. Military, police, collectors, bailiffs, employees of special forces, prosecutors, subways, departmental, non-departmental and private security organizations must work in bulletproof vests.

It is interesting that, in the presence of instructions to wear body armor, practically nowhere are the norms for the duration of this very wearing indicated. Although they are easy to find. Experts have repeatedly conducted research and testing that revealed the relationship between the weight of body armor and the maximum duration of its safe wearing. The weight of body armor depends on its protection class.

Protection classes and body armor weights

To date, GOST includes 6 basic and 1 special class of body armor protection, which differ from each other in weight, materials used, protection area and ability to withstand different types of weapons. We will not take into account the special zero class, since it provides for use only in civilian conditions and is effective only against a knife and sharpening.

Russian law enforcement agencies use bulletproof vests of different protection classes. Most often, collectors and other employees at increased risk are required to wear at least third class PPE. For private security companies, lighter models of protection class 2 are quite suitable.

Norms for wearing bulletproof vests

So, you know the protection class and weight of your body armor. How to determine how long it can be continuously worn? For this, there are data established by specialists in the course of research. They are given in the 2000 study guide Silnikova M.V. and Khimichev V.A. "Means of personal armor protection". The following recommendations allow you to avoid a deterioration in well-being and a negative impact on the health of the spine, and are relevant for adult men with average physical fitness.

It should be emphasized separately that the figures given are precisely the time of continuous wear. That is, 24 hours is not 24 hours every day without filming at all. After passing 24 hours (usually this is one daily shift), the back should be given some time to rest by removing the body armor.

Note that the above norms are valid only for adult men. But what about women? At the moment, there are no published medical studies on this topic, although the fair sex in law enforcement agencies is becoming more and more every year. Here, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated February 6, 1993 No. 105 can come to the rescue. It says that the maximum allowable load during a shift for women should not exceed 7 kilograms. This refers not only to the weight of one bulletproof vest, but to all equipment together. If we subtract from these 7 kg the weight of the pistol, handcuffs, baton, sword belt and other things, it turns out that the body armor should weigh about 4-5 kg. A man would walk in it for about 18 hours without any problems, for a woman the norm is unlikely to exceed 12 hours.

If, personally, for you or for your superiors, the research results of which are described in the tutorial are not enough, you can refer to the technical documentation of a specific body armor. Now, responsible companies, as a rule, apply technical and hygienic certificates to their products, where, among other things, the maximum time of continuous wearing of the product is indicated. However, usually these figures coincide with those presented above.

When does the norm change?

The negative consequences of wearing body armor can manifest themselves not only in the form of back pain, but also in the deterioration of general well-being, overheating of the body, and even getting a heat stroke followed by fainting. Therefore, the above norms should be adjusted depending on the intensity of the loads, temperature and humidity. environment and the materials from which the product is made.

The norms for continuous wearing of body armor are relevant at temperatures from -22 to +18 degrees Celsius and humidity up to 60%. In colder weather, they can be increased, and in hot weather, they decrease. With intense physical exertion (especially at temperatures above + 20ºС), the norms should also be reduced.

Separately, we note that modern bulletproof vests of 1 and 2 protection classes are sewn from high-quality fabrics that pass air well and maintain proper heat transfer. If you have just such a one in your service, even in hot weather there should not be much discomfort, including with a duration of continuous wear of 12-24 hours. For models of protection classes 3 and above, it is extremely important to take into account environmental conditions.

Everything is clear with the air temperature - you need to avoid overheating of the body, but what are the humidity restrictions related to? The fact is that when wet, the aramid fiber from which bulletproof vests are sewn loses its protective properties by 40%. And it absorbs moisture very well. The armor panels themselves are usually covered with a water-repellent cover so that they can be used in the rain, but in general, the protection still becomes weaker.

A bulletproof vest that gets wet from high humidity or rain should be replaced with a dry one and sent to dry. This is done away from open fire and not closer than 1 meter from heating appliances. After drying, the product restores its original protective characteristics.

What threatens the violation of the norms for the duration of wearing bulletproof vests

The designated norms were invented for a reason, they are designed to protect a person from many health problems. Indeed, for all its usefulness, a bulletproof vest is a heavy burden for the back. Among the most likely consequences of prolonged wearing of personal protective equipment are:

• osteochondrosis, that is, dystrophic disorders in articular cartilage. How does it manifest itself? Depending on the localization (thoracic, cervical, lumbar) - dull or sharp pains in the spine, including when bending over, inhaling and exhaling; dizziness, blurred vision and hearing, impaired sweating, erection in men and menstrual cycle in women;
• intervertebral hernia, that is, displacement of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc with a rupture of the fibrous ring. How does it manifest itself? Local and radiating pain, weakness and numbness of the limbs, headaches, dysfunction internal organs;
• scoliosis, that is, curvature of the spine. Manifested by constant back pain, headaches, deformities chest, rapid fatigue, final stages- violations of the functions of the heart, lungs, intestines.

Regulatory documents

There are several regulations requiring employees in the service to wear personal protective equipment such as body armor and armored helmets, they are different for different departments. This may include:

• for police officers - Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated 03.03.2015 No. 300;
• for bailiffs - Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 02.10.2009 No. 776;
• for employees of the investigative bodies of the prosecutor's office - Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation of October 28, 2011 No. 1217n;
• for investigators Investigative Committee Russian Federation - Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation of August 13, 2009 No. 587n (as amended on October 28, 2011);
• for postmen delivering or accompanying mail and cash- Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia dated June 18, 2010 No. 454n (as amended on February 20, 2014);
• for collectors - Resolution of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation of August 30, 2000 No. 63;
• for departmental security - Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 30, 1999 No. 1436 (as amended on January 18, 2018);
• for FSB officers - Order of the FSB of Russia dated July 21, 2014 No. 415;
• etc.

In addition, wearing body armor may be regulated by the internal charter of private security organizations and local laws.

However, none of the existing regulations federal significance the permissible duration of wearing body armor and armored helmets is not indicated. The laws only prescribe to whom, in what quantity and for how long the state or organization is obliged to issue personal protective equipment, as well as who and in what cases is obliged to wear them.

For a long time, the only law that even mentioned the permissible time for wearing body armor was the local Order of August 16, 2003 No. 474 “On streamlining the use of special means by personnel of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate in Moscow.” There was a maximum time limit of 12 hours. However, in 2013 order No. 474 was canceled by order No. 167 due to the fact that it contradicted Part 4 of Art. 219, part 1 of Art. 221 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation.

The lack of clearly approved regulatory documents for the duration of wearing personal protective equipment leads to many disputes and misunderstandings. Employees of the police, cash collection and other authorities regularly complain of back problems and strive to take off their heavy body armor, which entails penalties up to and including dismissal from the regulatory authorities, and most importantly, endangers their lives and health.

To wear or not to wear: a little about laws and ergonomics

Based on the foregoing, a complex dilemma becomes obvious: on the one hand, due to the lack of official regulations, the authorities have every right to require wearing heavy body armor for the entire shift, which can last 12 or 24 hours, on the other hand, it is simply difficult and unhealthy. How to be? Some employees go to tricks, pulling out armor plates from products and thus making them lighter, or simply remove body armor without permission. In no case should we do this, because we have only one life. As then?

If you work as a security guard, everything is quite simple. According to part 4 of article 219 and part 2 of article 221 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, the authorities are obliged to familiarize the employee with the hygienic and technical certificates of body armor against signature. And there, as we said above, the wearing norms are prescribed. If the familiarization was not carried out properly, you can demand to conduct it, study the norms together with the boss and make adjustments to the work procedure. As a rule, the owners of private security firms are easier to accommodate employees in this regard, not wanting to violate the requirements of the law.

Of course, the Labor Code also applies to police officers and other government departments. And you, too, may well appeal to this article. However, this will constantly put you in a defensive position. Even if you manage to convince your immediate supervisor, problems may arise with third-party inspectors at any time, and after them reprimands that you will have to challenge.

This is where the science of ergonomics can come to the rescue of your back. The comfort of wearing and the degree of load on the spine is affected not only by the weight of the body armor, but also by its distribution over the body, the location of the center of gravity. In the presence of unloading devices, the load on the body is distributed more rationally. The most comfortable option is if the main weight of the body armor falls on the least mobile parts of the body, that is, it does not hang on the shoulders, but is fixed and rests against the pelvic bones.

A loose fit of the bulletproof vest to the body also leads to rapid fatigue, especially while running or walking. By the way, you should walk without forgetting about depreciation, without sudden movements, sit down and get up smoothly, without once again shifting the center of gravity and pelvic bones. If these rules are violated, the step is minted and the bulletproof vest is not worn correctly, the threat to the joints and spine increases significantly.

conclusions

Wearing a bulletproof vest should definitely be done if the work is directly related to risk. However, it is best to do it correctly and not violate the duration standards established by doctors and manufacturers. Otherwise, problems with the back and joints will begin very soon. Due to the lack of regulatory documents of federal significance, it is quite difficult to deal with irrational requirements in the service. But probably. Your back is always ready to come to the aid of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, as well as reasonable ergonomic requirements.

"I already wrote that armored cuirasses were not the most optimal means of individual armor protection. That is why, in parallel with the improvement of cuirasses, inventors in all parts of the world tried to create a new, more reliable, versatile, and most importantly comfortable armor. To successfully solve the problem, both new design solutions and new structural materials were required.

The Yankees were the first to try to combine a cuirass and a fabric vest. Back in 1862, just at the height of the civil war between the North and the South, enterprising American manufacturers from the G. & D. Cook & Company "tried inexpensively, for only $ 5 for soldiers and $ 7 for officers, to sell the soldiers an elegant bulletproof vest The Soldier's Bullet Proof Vest. Under the twill fabric, two metal plates were inserted into the sides of the vest, which, when fastened overlapping were found one on top of the other. From above, the plates were supported by thick leather straps thrown over the shoulders and fastened to the canvas back. It turned out a beautiful elegant thing, but, as it soon turned out, absolutely unsuitable for war. It was unbearably hot in such a vest, it was heavy, and "armor" plates made of dubious steel easily made their way even from a pistol. True, this invention did come in handy for some things. Firstly, the soldiers pulled out metal plates and used them as frying pans for cooking. Secondly, the vests made it easier to identify the corpses.It turns out the Anglo-Saxons had a curious tradition of signing their vests to identify the body in case of a little trouble on the front line.

Koreans were the first to try to stop bullets with multilayer fabric. They modernized the old, known since the times ancient egypt cloth armor, making it layered like a pie. This defense was called Myeonje Baegab. The need for its creation arose after the French invasion of 1866, and then the American in 1871, when the Koreans experienced the power of new rifles in their own skin. The vest could have up to 30 layers of thick cotton fabric and really stopped bullets fired from a long distance. It was still better than nothing. However, as in the American model, it was hot and uncomfortable to fight in it, and most importantly, the Korean soldier constantly risked turning into a flaming torch, because Myeonje Baegab vests were easily ignited both from open fire and from hot fragments of gun shells.

By the way, when describing the Korean Myeonje Baegab, one of my acquaintances suddenly remembered who claimed that a wet sweatshirt (aka padded jacket and quilted jacket) holds a bullet almost like a bulletproof vest of the 1st class. I don’t know if it’s true or not, I personally haven’t been able to conduct such experiments. Only one thing is certain - a wet sweatshirt will definitely not burn.

The first bulletproof vests did not justify the hopes of the military, and therefore did not enter the army for supply. However, this did not at all embarrass the inventors and did not cool their thirst for creativity. So in the USA, in Chicago, an emigrant from Poland, a Catholic priest Casimir Zeglen caught fire with a charitable cause - saving the lives of God's servants. For several years, Zeglen experimented with various materials without success, until he accidentally stumbled upon the notes of forensic doctor Dr. George Emery Goodfelow. During the autopsy, the forensic scientist discovered that one of the revolver bullets hit a several times folded silk handkerchief and got stuck in it, never reaching the body. Zeglen immediately realized that, finally, he was lucky, and the necessary material was found. Having called for help all the advanced technologies of weaving factories in Germany and Austria, the holy father, in the end, received silk, which, being folded in several layers, could stretch and successfully extinguish the energy of a bullet. In 1901, Zeglen staged a public test of his body armor. They fired at him from a pistol almost point-blank, and at the same time not a single bullet caused the inventor any tangible harm. A volunteer from among the spectators repeated the experience of Zeglen and also remained alive and unharmed.

Successful tests allowed Zeglen to begin production of his bulletproof vests. They were very expensive, about $ 800, and therefore only very, very rich people could afford them. For example, among Zeglen's clients were the crowned heads of Europe, including Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was killed in Sarajevo. The bulletproof vest did not save the life of the heir to the Austrian throne only because the terrorist Nikola Princip shot Franz Ferdinand in the neck.

But no matter how good Zeglen's silk bulletproof vests were, they protected only from a pistol bullet. Naturally, this clearly did not satisfy army requirements, and the price was $ 800 apiece ... For this money, it was possible to equip a whole company of soldiers. Therefore, in order not to strain too much, military officials decided to postpone consideration of the issue until better times.

These same " better times came along with the outbreak of the First World War. Everything repeated, as in the case of a protective helmet. The war was not like all the previous ones. The troops suffered huge losses from the massive use of artillery and machine guns. It was necessary to reduce them immediately, and by any possible ways. It was here that they again remembered personal armor protection.

In this regard, different countries have taken different paths. The Germans and Italians concentrated on the mass production of cuirasses, the French put on fashionable leather jackets and high boots, the Russians, as always, out of poverty, limited themselves to a sapper shovel tucked into their belts, but the inventive British began to create some kind of modern body armor. True, the English defense, unlike the German one, was not purchased by the army. It could be purchased for your personal money and thus put a clear coin in the pocket of the manufacturers.

I’ll get better at this point, not a coin at all, but a solid bundle of rustling bills, because English bulletproof vests were incredibly expensive. Sometimes accumulated savings over the years whole family went to buy armor for a son, husband or father. It is not surprising that there were about two dozen such enterprising firms in England that produced various types of bulletproof vests and successfully profited from the war.

The most successful and widespread English model was the Dayfield body shield. It was sewn from a dense fabric of a protective color. Four compartments housed four metal armor plates. Of course, they could not withstand a direct hit from a rifle bullet, but they were very effective against pistol bullets, shrapnel and shrapnel. Here it is worth recalling that it is the fragments of shells and mines, from 1914 to the present day, that remain the main damaging factor in all wars and conflicts. So many English soldiers owed their lives to the Dayfield. Another indisputable advantage of this body armor was its convenience; according to this indicator, the Dayfield left far behind all its contemporaries.

At the end of World War I, protection for soldiers was again successfully forgotten and stubbornly not remembered even in the most terrible years of World War II. The only exception can be considered the Soviet breastplate CH-42, but it was produced in very limited quantities and only for the needs of special forces, so there was no need to talk about the mass return of body armor to the troops.

The impetus for the revival of personal protective equipment was given by the appearance of synthetic fabrics, they were stronger, more elastic, and most importantly much cheaper than silk. American industry during the Korean War (1950-53) began to supply its soldiers with protective vests made of multilayer ballistic nylon. The first mass-produced American body armor was the M1951 (M51), developed by the Corps marines(KMP) for their soldiers. (The numeric index in the title indicates the year of acceptance for supply.) The vest was created solely to protect against fragments of mortar mines, hand grenades and other types of low-speed submunitions. To do this, the M1951 used overlapping doron plates that were located around the torso of a soldier, as well as layers of nylon in the upper chest and shoulders. M1951 weighed about 5.5 kg. At the beginning of the Korean War, 31,000 of these vests were produced and shipped to the Far East.

In parallel with the M1951, the M1952 (M52) protective vest was launched into a series. The developers of this model (Artillery Corps) generally abandoned the use of armor plates, both metal and doron. The fact is that they did not protect against long-barreled weapons, but when they were pierced, the bullet was deformed and caused much more damage to the fighter than with a conventional one. direct hit. In connection with the rejection of armor plates, the weight of the M1952 was only 3.9 kg. As for anti-fragmentation protection, it was successfully provided in the new body armor by 12 layers of elastic nylon, placed in fire-resistant, water-repellent vinyl covers. V50 for the M1952 was 425 m/s. (V50 is a generally accepted characteristic of the resistance of individual body armor. It shows the speed of a steel ball weighing 1 g and a diameter of 6.35 mm., At which one or another product is capable of resisting it with 50% probability.) At the end of 1952, it was sent to Korea about 5,000 pieces of M1952, and at the beginning of 1953 another 20,000 pieces of modernized M1952A (M52A).

Statistics on the use of body armor in the Korean War gave positive results. It turned out that the number of injuries in the body decreased by 60-70%, and the severity of injuries when breaking through the protection by 25-30%.

In 1955, after the end of hostilities in Korea, stubborn Marines began to upgrade their M1951, resulting in the M1955 (M55) body armor. There was nothing revolutionary in the new vest. Like its prototype, the M1955 was made from nylon and featured 23 doron inserts, each measuring 0.335 square meters. dm and 0.3 mm thick. A distinguishing feature of the M1955 was a rope bolster on the right shoulder, designed to hold the rifle sling while on the march. On later models M1955, a similar roller appeared on the left shoulder, and large patch pockets were also sewn on them.

It was the Yankees equipped with M1952A and M1955 body armor that entered the Vietnam War.

In the midst of hostilities, the US Army received a new bulletproof vest M1969 (M69), into which the artillery M1952A was already transformed. This vest became part of the image american soldier times of the Vietnam War. Like its predecessor, it weighed 3.9 kg and also consisted of 12 layers of ballistic nylon. V50 body armor was 450-500 m / s, the protection area was 60 square meters. dm. The know-how of the M1969 consisted in the presence of a large ¾ inch, made of 6 layers of nylon, a collar that was supposed to protect the neck. By the way, it was this very collar that caused a lot of complaints from the soldiers. Clinging to the edges of the M1 protective helmet, it significantly limited the mobility of the head. However, despite this drawback, in general, the M1969 was quite comfortable.

Despite all the advantages of light and comfortable American body armor, many military personnel in Vietnam refused to wear them. The reason for this was the suffocating heat and high humidity of the tropics. Under the layers of synthetics, the human body was sweating, burning and itching. So many soldiers preferred to risk their lives than endure such torture for many hours in a row.

The development of the first Soviet body armor was started at the All-Union Institute of Aviation Materials (VIAM) in 1954. Taking into account the experience of the Americans, it was also decided to abandon the idea of ​​​​holding bullets and concentrate on anti-fragmentation protection. To do this, the composition of the body armor was made of mosaically arranged hexagonal soft aluminum plates and a dense support made of Avizen (an analogue of nylon). The body armor lining was made of quilted batting. Thanks to this solution, the bullets did not ricochet from the outer surfaces of the plates, and did not deform when pierced, which did not increase the severity of the injury. Three years later, in 1957, the product received the index 6B1 and was accepted for supply to the USSR Armed Forces. The bulletproof vest weighed 5.2 kg and, in addition to fragments, could also protect against 7.62 × 25 cartridge bullets fired from PPSh and PPS at a distance of 50 m. In 1957-58. about 1,500 units of this protection were manufactured, most of which immediately settled in long-term storage warehouses. It was decided to deploy mass production of 6B1 only in the event of a real military threat.

In 1979, hostilities began in Afghanistan. Immediately, the entire batch of 6B1 was transferred to the current 40th Army. The physical stresses they were subjected to soviet soldiers in the conditions of mountains and deserts turned out to be prohibitive, so the leadership of the USSR decided not to resume production of 6B1, but to urgently create a new body armor with similar protective properties, but with a much lower mass. The development of the new model was entrusted to the Research Institute of Steel. It was this research institute that created all the models of the first generation of Soviet bulletproof vests that were used in the Afghan war of 1979-89.

6B2 (Zh-81)

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1981
Manufacturer: Research Institute of Steel (Moscow) together with TSNIISHP
Design: 6B2 consisted of chest and back parts. On the shoulders they were connected by a belt-buckle fastening, which made it possible to adjust the body armor according to height, on the sides - "Velcro". The front and rear parts of the 6B2 themselves were nylon covers, in which protective compositions were placed from small armor plates stacked with mutual overlap (they were inserted into special pockets) and a ballistic screen located under them from 30 layers of aramid fabric TSVM-DZh
Armor elements: titanium plates ADU-605-80 1.25-1.4 mm thick.
Protection level: V50 - 700 m/s. Anti-fragmentation protection (including needle-shaped submunitions), pistol bullets. (protection class 2 according to GOST R 50744-95)
Protection area: 28-30 sq. dm.
Weight: 4.2-4.8 kg. (depending on size)
Notes: 6B2 provided a level of protection similar to 6B1, however, unlike its predecessor, it caused the bullet to be dismantled upon penetration, and therefore increased the severity of the wound. Such was the fee for reducing the mass by only 15%. The experience of the combat use of 6B2 in Afghanistan showed its 100% resistance to fragments, however, with bullets from AK-47 (7.62 × 39 mm), the 6B2 bulletproof vest easily made its way already from 400-600 m.

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1983
Manufacturer: Research Institute of Steel (Moscow)
Design: Similar to 6B2.
Armor elements: titanium plates ADU-605T-83 6.5 mm thick.
Protection level: 6B3T provided all-round protection against PS bullets of 7.62 × 39 cartridge from a distance of 10 m (protection class 3 according to GOST R 50744-95)
Weight: 12.2 kg.

Modifications: 6B3-01 / 6B3TM-01 (Zh-85T) In it, the dorsal anti-bullet section was replaced with an anti-fragmentation section from a bulletproof vest 6B2. At the same time, the weight of the product decreased to 8.2 kg. The photo clearly shows a folded-up protective screen made of TSVM-J fabric and one of the titanium armor plates (6.5 mm) of the front armor package, as well as thin titanium armor plates (1.25-1.4 mm) of the rear armor package.
Notes: 6B3T - the first Soviet bulletproof vest. When creating 6B3T, an attempt was made for the first time to combine protective body armor with unloading. In special patch pockets 6B3T there were 4 magazines for AK or RPK, 4 hand grenades, a gas mask and a portable radio station.

6B4 (Zh-85K)

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1985
Manufacturer: Research Institute of Steel (Moscow)
Design: Similar to 6B2
Armor elements: ceramic plates based on boron carbide ADU 14.20.00.000
Protection level: 6B4 provided all-round protection against fragments and bullets PS, PP and BZ cartridge 7.62 × 39 mm. (protection class 4 according to GOST R 50744-95)
Weight: 7.6-15.6 kg. (depending on modification)
Modifications: 6B4-O, 6B4-P, 6B4-S, 6B4-01 (Zh-85K-01), 6B4-01-O, 6B4-01-P Modifications differed in the number and location of ceramic armor plates.
Notes: The 6B4 bulletproof vest had an elongated front section that provides groin protection.

6B5 (Zh-86) "Beehive" series

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1986
Manufacturer: Research Institute of Steel (Moscow)
Design: Similar to 6B2.
Armor elements: titanium ADU-605-80 and ADU-605-83, steel ADU 14.05 (3.8-4.3 mm thick), ceramic ADU 14.20.00.000
Weight: 3.7-14 kg. (depending on modification)
Modifications: 6B5, 6B5-11, 6B5-1, 6B5-12 - anti-fragmentation body armor. Intended for calculations of missile systems, artillery pieces, self-propelled guns, communications units, headquarters, etc. 6B5-5, 6B5-16, 6B5-6, 6B5-17, 6B5-7, 6B5-18, 6B5-8, 6B5-19 - body armor with differentiated protection: bulletproof front, anti-shatter rear. Designed for combat airborne units, SV, marines. 6B5-4, 6B5-13, 6B5-14, 6B5-15 - body armor providing all-round anti-bullet protection. They were intended to perform short-term combat special tasks (for example, an assault).
Notes: In 6B5, an attempt was made to create a unified body armor, which, depending on the configuration, could be used to perform the widest range of combat missions. In the design of 6B5, for the first time, an anti-fragmentation collar and shoulder pads were used, which prevent the weapon belt, duffel straps and other equipment from slipping off. Body armor covers were made of gray-green or green nylon fabric. Batches of protection were also produced with covers made of cotton fabric and camouflage patterns. Later examples were produced in the "Flora" colorway. Bulletproof vest 6B5 and its numerous modifications form the so-called "Beehive" series.

The fighting in Afghanistan made Soviet designers at an accelerated pace to develop one body armor after another, thereby adapting to the characteristics of hostilities. The war with the Mujahideen turned out to be specific. The enemy used artillery and mortars to an extremely limited extent, but small arms rumbled, both in the mountains and in the "green" almost incessantly. Soviet troops suffered particularly heavy losses during attacks on convoys, which were shot from just some 30-50 meters. It was this feature of the hostilities that led to the transition to bulletproof bulletproof vests (6B3, 6B4, 6B5), which massively began to enter the troops already in the fourth year of their stay in the DRA.

Around the same time, across the ocean, the Yankees were slowly digesting their rich Vietnamese experience. Vietnam was much more like a traditional war with a clearly defined front line, an exchange of air and artillery strikes, minefields, and raids by sabotage and reconnaissance groups. In such a war, as expected, the defeat by shrapnel was many times greater than the bullet. And if so, then the Yankees did not see a special need for the creation of bulletproof protection, especially since the increase in the weight of combat equipment negatively affected the mobility and effectiveness of the infantry. In addition, the developers of soft body armor have a very strong trump card called Kevlar. (This material, which is stronger than steel, was commercially produced by DuPont in the early 1970s.) Therefore, it is not surprising that the new PASGT-V soft splinterproof bulletproof vest is coming to replace the M1969 that has served the US Army ground forces. The level of anti-shatter protection in the PASGT-V, compared to the M1969, has increased by approximately 50%.

PASGT-V (Personal Armor System, Ground Troops, Vest)

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1978
Manufacturer: Gentex Corporation
Design: Soft vest made of 13 layers of Kevlar 29 fabric. Velcro closure. The ballistic layer on the back is divided into 4 sections to increase the flexibility of the product. The cover is water-repellent nylon. Protective collar - 1.9 cm. Shoulders are protected by special soft armored shoulder pads.
Protection level: V50 - 620-650 m/s. Protection against splinters and pistol bullets.
Protection area: 58 sq.dm. (for medium size)
Weight: 3.2-4.9 kg. (depending on size)
Notes: The American PASGT-V bulletproof vest was produced in 2 colors: "woodland" (woodland) and "desert" (desert). In addition to the PASGT-V body armor, the PASGT-H Kevlar helmet and additional ISAPO bulletproof protection are also included in the personal armor protection system kit for ground troops. The PASGT-V bulletproof vest remained in supply until 2006 and for this period was the most massive model of the US Army bulletproof vest.

In the early 1990s, it emerged that the Vietnamese were the last to have the courage to openly confront the powerful United States. All the other "admirers" of the star-striped flag strove to make holes in it from an ambush and hide before jambs of Phantoms loaded to the eyeballs flocked into place. In other words, the Yankees began to increasingly get involved in military conflicts, very reminiscent of the military operations that the Soviet troops waged in Afghanistan. Here, like it or not, I had to think about body armor, which is able to protect against a bullet. The first American body armor with a replaceable bulletproof armor element was the so-called "Ranger vest" - RBA, designed specifically for the personnel of the 75th Ranger Regiment (hence the name).

RBA (Ranger Body Armor)

Acceptance for aircraft supply: early 1990s
Manufacturer: Protective Materials Company, and later HS Manufacturing and Ceradyne.
Design: The American body armor RBA consists of 2 parts: a flexible vest and a patch pocket-cover with a replaceable armor element fixed on it. The vest is made of camouflage nylon fabric with layers of Kevlar KM2 material inside. There are fewer layers than in PASGT-V, but they are all much thicker and stiffer.
Armor element: It is a composition of aluminum oxide ceramic tiles measuring 50.8 × 50.8 mm. Protection area - 7.7 square meters. dm. The upper right corner is cut off so as not to interfere with the rifle butt stop.
Protection level: V50 for a vest - 650 m/s; armor element - class IIIA according to NIJ (protection class 2a according to GOST R 50744-95)
Weight: 3.65 kg - without armor element; 7.3 kg - with an armor element.
Modifications: Later models of RBA body armor were equipped with a second armor element that provides back protection. At the same time, the total weight of the RBA increased to 11.4 kg.
Notes: The first combat use of the RBA took place in 1993 during the operation of the American Rangers in Somalia. Later, paratroopers and infantrymen stationed in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq were partially equipped with body armor. If necessary, the ISAPO protective complex could be worn over the RBA body armor, as well as over the PASGT-V.

ISAPO (Interim Small Arms Protective Overvest)

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1996
Design: The additional protective complex ISAPO consists of two ceramic plates (back and chest), inserted into camouflage covers made of water-repellent nylon fabric. Worn ISAPO over body armor.
Protection level: ISAPO was intended to protect against bullets of 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm caliber, as well as from needle-shaped striking elements of artillery ammunition.
Weight: 7.48 kg.
Note: Tests of the American protective complex ISAPO, conducted by Russian specialists in 1998, showed its complete non-compliance with the declared parameters. Bullets from AK-74 pierced the protection right through from a distance of 550 m, bullets from AKM - from 800 m. Pistol bullets of 9 mm at a speed of 337 m / s penetrated the dummy to a depth of 4.4 cm. Most likely it was the low quality of ISAPO that stalled it production. Only 4,000 kits were produced. Of these, 1146 were transferred to the troops, 2854 were handed over to long-term storage warehouses before the special period. ISAPO was produced in 2 colors: "woodland" (woodland) and "desert" (desert).

As for the USSR, then, as everyone remembers very well, shortly after the end of Afghan war it safely fell apart into many wild, hungry and evil territories, which it was even difficult to call states. The era of unrest, poverty, crime and internecine conflicts began. Naturally, in such conditions, the needs of the army were safely forgotten. There was no need to talk about the development of new, more modern army body armor, although in general the topic of personal body armor turned out to be very relevant. The lads and the newly minted rich in crimson jackets needed to protect their precious backs and stomachs, which were fired on by fellow competitors. As they say, demand determines supply, and therefore in the territory of the entire former Soviet Union, like mushrooms, firms and firms began to grow, manufacturing their own armor protection. Only in Russia there were more than 50 of them. Most often, the products of such "Kulibins" turned out to be "singed". In it, ballistic screens were sewn from upholstery fabric, and armor plates were cut from ordinary food-grade aluminum. But fortunately, even in the conditions of this general degradation, part of the old Soviet research institutes and design bureaus managed to survive and resist. It was they who became the backbone of the Russian military-industrial complex after the country began to emerge from the crisis.

The first Russian army body armor, accepted for supply 13 years after the creation of the 6B5 "Hive", was the Zabralo series (body armor 6B11, 6B12, 6B13), created to be included in the basic set of individual equipment (BKIE) "Barmitsa". These are almost identical body armor in design, differing only in armor plates, and therefore in the level of protection. Unlike the Soviet period, the same 6B11, 6B12, 6B13 were produced by several companies at once, which is the reason for their difference in appearance, accessories, and markings. The main reason for the creation of the Zabralo series was the need to equip the armed forces with compact, universal armor protection, over which modern unloading systems could be put on.

6B11 series "Visor"

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1999
Manufacturer: CJSC "Kirasa" (Perm)
Design: The bulletproof vest consists of chest and dorsal sections. On the shoulders, the sections are connected with belt-buckle fasteners, with the help of which adjustment is made for height, on the sides there are Velcro, a belt with a hook and a carabiner. The basis of each section is a flexible fabric armor package, on top of which large pockets for armor elements are sewn: 2 in the front section, 1 in the back. (The principle of protection is clearly borrowed from the American RBA body armor.) The front section is also equipped with a fold-down apron to protect the groin. Inner surface both sections are lined with a special ventilated damper that softens the impact. The body armor has shoulder pads and an adjustable collar to protect the neck and chin areas from splinters.
Armor elements: Fabric from 30 layers of aramid fabric TSVM-J
Protection level: Grade 2
for vest V50 - 550 m/s;
for armored elements V50 - 600 m/s;
bullet resistance of armored elements: pistols TT (cartridge 57-N-134S) and PMM (cartridge 7N16) from 5 m.
Protection area:
Weight: 5 kg.
Modifications: 6B11-1 - combined arms bulletproof vest manufactured by NPF "Tekhinkom" (6B11-1 had 1 armor element in the front section and 2 in the back); 6B11-2 - combined arms body armor manufactured by the Research Institute of Steel; 6B11-3 - combined arms body armor manufactured by CJSC Artess.
Notes: Bulletproof vests 6B11 were designed to protect against edged weapons, pistol bullets, shell fragments and mines. They were equipped with artillery crews; crews of self-propelled guns, missile and anti-aircraft missile systems; signalmen; personnel of the headquarters (from the regiment and above); support units. 6B11 was accepted for supply instead of body armor 6B5-11 and 6B5-12.

6B12 series "Visor"

Acceptance for aircraft supply: 1999
Manufacturer: CJSC "Kirasa" (Perm)
Design: Completely identical to 6B11
Armor elements: Front section - steel, 6.5 mm thick, 2 pcs; rear section - fabric of 30 layers of aramid fabric TSVM-J, 1 pc.
Protection level: Front armored elements - class 3; rear armor element - class 2.
for vest V50 - 550 m/s;
for the rear armor element V50 - 600 m/s;
bullet resistance of the front armor elements: AK-74 (cartridge 7N6) from 10 meters; AK-74 and AKM (7N10 and 57-N-231 cartridges with heat-strengthened cores), M16A2 rifle (M855 cartridge) from 50 meters; SVD rifle(cartridge 57-N-323S with a steel core) from 100 m.
Protection area: General anti-fragmentation - 45-50 sq.dm. (depending on size); front armored elements - 8 sq.dm; rear armor element - 8 sq.dm.
Weight: 8 kg.
Modifications: 6B12-1 - combined arms body armor manufactured by NPF "Tekhinkom" and TsVM "Armokom" (6B12-1 had 1 armor element in the front section and 2 in the back); 6B12-2 - combined arms body armor manufactured by the Research Institute of Steel; 6B12-3 - combined arms bulletproof vest manufactured by CJSC "Artess"; 6B12-4 - combined arms body armor manufactured by NPP "KLASS"; 6B12 M is a modernized body armor of CJSC "Kirasa" with armored elements made of steel "44C" of increased strength. It is interesting that the bulletproof vests produced by Artess CJSC turned out to be just from the category of those fakes that I wrote about above. During the tests, which were carried out by the investigating authorities, it turned out that the bullet from the AK-74 pierces both sections of 6B12-3 right through. In 2005, all 14,000 bulletproof vests (including 6B11-3) supplied by Artess for the Ministry of Defense were declared unusable, after which they began to be withdrawn from warehouses and military units. As a result of the scam, the director of Artessa, together with one of the high-ranking generals of the GRAU, made over 93 million rubles in net profit.
Notes: Bulletproof vest 6B12 was intended to protect against bullets and fragments of personnel of combat units of the ground forces, airborne forces, ground forces and marines. 6B12 was accepted for supply instead of body armor 6B5-16, 6B5-17, 6B5-18 and 6B5-19.