Body Armour and Protection systems

NATO vs Russia: A Helmet Crash-Test, by Oleg Burunov for Sputnikglobe. 06.29.2024.

A helmet is an essential part of a soldier’s combat gear, playing an important role in their survivability on the battlefield.

Rostec State Corporation – Russia’s arms manufacturer – has conducted a crash test of five armored helmets, including three used by NATO troops, a Russian­-made protective hat and a helmet made by an unknown producer.

Let's find out which helmet turned out to be the most reliable.

The helmets were tested for compliance with the Br-1 and Br-2 protection standards. During the tests, Russian-made ­­­­Stechkin and Serdyukov 9mm automatic pistols were fired at a distance of five meters from the helmets, which were placed in various positions at a shooting ground.

The helmet by the unknown producer, as well as a NATO-standard trophy helmet, a US-made PASGT DELTA helmet, and the Philippines-made NATO-standard AB-ACH FC helmet, were all penetrated by the bullets fired from both the Stechkin and the Serdyukov.

Meanwhile, the Russian-made Bars-L helmet withstood the impact of all the bullets, which only left a slight dent on the helmet’s surface.

Designed by the Research Institute of Steel (part of Rostec’s Kalashnikov Concern), the state-of-the-art Bars-L is made of titanium and composite materials, featuring increased protective characteristics.

In particular, the helmet is capable of absorbing an assault rifle bullet fired from a certain distance, according to the Kalashnikov company. The Bars-L was for the first time put on display at a St.Petersburg arms exhibition in April 2024.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/nato-vs-russia-a-helmet-crash-test-1119176840.html

Came across this video today, I was wondering if the helmet mentioned in the above post can offer a similar protection and withstand a rifle fire

https://iz.ru/1783804/2024-11-01/v-rossii-razrabotali-plavuchii-bronezhilet

You can cross rivers in these bulletproof vests. The soldier won't drown in it. If he gets wounded, he just needs to get rid of the heavy stuff, like ammunition, and he'll stay afloat. We've thoroughly tested the bulletproof vest, and it's proven its performance," said a representative of the developer.

The vest's protection class is BR-4. It cannot be penetrated by 7.62 x 39 PS (steel bullet) and 5.45 x 39 PP (high penetration) bullets.

The product protects all vital organs. The design of the "Bor-M" does not restrict movement, allows you to wear combat belts, move around in a car and do physical exercises.

Bor-M: Russian Servicemen Get Top-Notch Floatable Armour Vest, by Oleg Burunov for Sputnikglobe.com. 11.02.2024.

These advanced vests are expected to be used by Russian marines and navy sailors as well as motorized riflemen and engineer troops in the special operation zone.

Russian engineers from the research and production enterprise Fillin have created body armour that allows soldiers to stay afloat in combat conditions. What you should know about Bor-M and how does it help Russian servicemen?

The Bor-M level-four armour vest can tackle a machine gun or an assault rifle bullet, thanks to a 2.2-kg armour plate made of boron carbide, the third hardest material in nature after diamond and boron nitride.

The vest is capable of resisting fragments from the armour plate after being hit by a 7.62mm or a 5.45mm bullet. The Bor-M can save a soldier from behind-the-armour blows to the body, which can damage internal organs.

The body armour’s positive buoyancy is provided by a ballistic package, and a climatic shock-absorbing damper made of lightweight materials.

The vest protects all vital organs. If necessary, the area of anti-fragmentation protection can be increased by installing additional modules for protecting the neck, shoulders, and groin.

The Bor-M is fitted with a quick release system and a wide evacuation loop to help pull a wounded soldier from under the fire.

The body armour is already successfully used by servicemen in the special military operation zone. Thanks to the vest, one of them averted harm despite being hit in the back by a cumulative jet.

Most of all, the Bor-Ms will be used by Russian marines and navy sailors who will have to fight in coastal and riverside areas, including the River Dnepr front line, where fire contact can occur at the most unexpected moment, military experts said.

The Bor-M is fitted with a quick release system and a wide evacuation loop to help pull a wounded soldier from under the fire.

The body armour is already successfully used by servicemen in the special military operation zone. Thanks to the vest, one of them averted harm despite being hit in the back by a cumulative jet.

Most of all, the Bor-Ms will be used by Russian marines and navy sailors who will have to fight in coastal and riverside areas, including the River Dnepr front line, where fire contact can occur at the most unexpected moment, military experts said.

The vests will also be of help to Russian motorized riflemen and engineer troops, given that a Bor-M can keep a shell-shocked or wounded soldier afloat, thereby saving his life, the experts concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/bor-m-russian-servicemen-get-top-notch-floatable-armor-vest-1120752096.html

Treating soldiers equipment as a system rather than just individual pieces of kit means you can have items doing double duty or even providing more than two features... in this case body armour that also serves as a life vest in water...