The Caliber Armor AV2 is a steel alloy body armor plate tested and verified to meet or exceed the ballistic requirements of NIJ Standard-0101.06 Level III and NIJ Standard-0101.07 RF2, with additional special threat testing against M855A1 and 7.62x54mmR. Available in 10x12 Shooters Cut, 10x12 SAPI Cut, and 11x14 Shooters Cut, the AV2 ships standard with an Advanced PolyShield Anti-Spall coating and an ergonomic multi-curve profile achieved in a single press — at no additional cost. Weighing 7.2 lbs for the 10x12 Shooters Cut variant, it shaves a full pound from the prior AR550 lineup while maintaining a half-inch profile.

Who this is for

• Law enforcement and security professionals who need a durable, long-service-life rifle plate without a mandatory five-year replacement cycle or x-ray inspection requirement.
• Team commanders and procurement officers looking to outfit multiple personnel at a competitive price without sacrificing RF2-rated ballistic performance.
• Civilian shooters and prepared individuals who want a multi-curve steel plate that rides comfortably for extended wear and covers vital organs without excessive bulk.

Ballistic performance

The AV2 is built from a proprietary steel alloy developed through three years of iterative testing across different thicknesses, materials, and heat-treating processes. The goal was to clear the ballistic requirements of both the draft RF1 and RF2 designations while reducing weight relative to earlier steel plate generations. The result meets or exceeds NIJ Standard-0101.06 Level III — six shots of 7.62x51mm M80 FMJ at 2,780 fps — and NIJ Standard-0101.07 RF2, which addresses the performance gap between legacy Level III and Level IV that the industry had previously filled with informal Level III+ designations.

Beyond the core RF2 requirement, the AV2 has been tested against the M855A1 enhanced performance round and 7.62x54mmR, two special threats that fall outside the standard test matrices. Official ballistic test reports are available upon request. The plate will not stop 30-06 M2 AP or other Level IV armor-piercing projectiles; for those threat profiles, a Level IV ceramic or composite plate is required.

Plate compatibility / cut geometry

The AV2 ships in three configurations: 10x12 Shooters Cut, 10x12 SAPI Style Cut, and 11x14 Shooters Cut. The Shooters Cut geometry reduces corner material to lower total weight while maintaining coverage over the vital organ zone. The SAPI Style Cut follows the standard military form factor for carriers designed around that profile. All three configurations feature the same multi-curve geometry, produced in a single-press bend process that Caliber Armor identifies as an industry first for steel plate construction. The multi-curve fit reduces pressure points during extended wear compared to flat or single-curve steel plates. The 10x12 footprint fits the majority of plate carriers on the market; the 11x14 is suited to larger carriers with extended front and rear plate pockets. Contact us if you need fit confirmation for a specific carrier.

Specifications

Fit and carrier compatibility

The 10x12 footprint is the most common hard plate size and seats in virtually all standard-sized plate carriers. The 11x14 Shooters Cut requires a carrier with a large plate pocket; verify your carrier's listed plate pocket dimensions before ordering. The SAPI Style Cut is designed for carriers with SAPI-specific pocket geometry and may not seat flush in carriers designed exclusively for Shooters Cut profiles. The multi-curve geometry means the AV2 is not flat — flat-pocket carriers without a curved seating surface may not achieve a flush fit. Contact us with your carrier model if you have questions about fitment before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

What rounds does the AV2 stop?

The AV2 is tested and verified against the NIJ 0101.06 Level III standard (6 shots of 7.62x51mm M80 FMJ at 2,780 fps), the NIJ 0101.07 RF2 requirement, and special threats including M855A1 and 7.62x54mmR. It does not stop 30-06 M2 AP or equivalent Level IV armor-piercing projectiles. Official ballistic test reports are available upon request.

What is the difference between Level III, Level III+, and RF2?

Legacy NIJ 0101.06 Level III covers 7.62x51mm M80 FMJ at 2,780 fps. The body armor industry adopted Level III+ as an informal designation for plates stopping higher-velocity 5.56mm and 7.62x39mm steel core rounds — with no standardized definition. NIJ 0101.07 RF2 is the forthcoming standard's formalized equivalent, filling the performance gap between Level III and Level IV with defined test parameters. The AV2 is tested to RF2, making it a formally verified version of what was previously called Level III+.

What does PolyShield do and why does it matter?

Steel plates produce spall — fragments of bullet material and steel jacket — on impact. PolyShield is an advanced anti-spall coating applied to the strike face of the AV2. It significantly reduces fragmentation risks by containing spall that would otherwise travel toward the wearer's face, neck, and extremities. The coating ships standard on every AV2 at no additional cost.

Does the AV2 require a soft armor backer?

It depends on your threat environment and carrier setup. The AV2 with PolyShield coating addresses spall as a standalone plate. Adding a soft armor IIIA backer behind the plate increases multi-hit performance and provides additional blunt force trauma reduction. The plate functions without a backer, but pairing with soft armor is common in law enforcement configurations.

What is the difference between Shooters Cut and SAPI Cut?

Shooters Cut removes material from the upper corners of the plate, reducing weight and allowing greater arm mobility. SAPI Style Cut follows the military standard form factor with a more tapered top edge. Both cuts are available in the 10x12 size; 11x14 is available in Shooters Cut only. Choose based on your carrier's plate pocket geometry and your mobility requirements.

Can the AV2 be shipped to my state?

The AV2 cannot be shipped to New York or Connecticut due to state body armor purchase restrictions on civilians. It is subject to U.S. export control regulations under EAR and ITAR; export or re-transfer to a foreign end user without written approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce or Department of State is prohibited. Under 18 U.S.C. § 931, anyone with a federal felony conviction for a crime of violence is prohibited from purchasing or possessing body armor.