






NIJ 3++ SS109 / VPAM 7 flexible ballistic plate
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FI/RA FLEX™ Ballistic Plates – High Performance Protection
💥 In case of out of stock, pre-order available – delivery within 2 weeks.
📦 Ballistic plates are sold individually (side plates in pairs).
Technical characteristics
Model | Kind | Weight (kg) SAPI SA | Weight (kg) SAPI ICW | Thickness (mm) | Protection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
FI/RA FLEX™ | Flexible | 2.0 | 1.8 | 21 SA / 18 ICW | NIJ 3++ SS109 / VPAM 7 |
Swimmer-Cut | Flexible | 1.9 | 1.6 | 21 SA / 18 ICW | NIJ 3++ SS109 / VPAM 7 |
Side-Plate (pair) | Flexible | 1.4 | - | - | NIJ 3++ SS109 / VPAM 7 |
The Assets
🔹 Patented technology : Ceramic encapsulated in a polymer, with a composite material on the back.
🔹 Multiaxial Flexibility : Perfect adaptation to all body shapes, follows body movements, even in uncomfortable positions.
🔹 Optimized Lightness : Reduced feeling of weight thanks to better distribution of contact points.
🔹 Multi-Impact Protection : Unmatched resistance against armor-piercing ammunition, defined according to the highest military standards.
🔹 Robustness and Durability : Encapsulated ceramic for increased shock protection, waterproof cover for water resistance.
🔹 Unisex : Design suitable for both men and women thanks to its flexibility.
🔹 Adaptability : Compatible with all types of plate holders accepting the 25x30 cm SAPI format.
🔹 Trauma Reduction : Rear impact limited to 35 mm max (compared to 44 mm according to the standard), and 25 mm for piercing calibers .
🔹 Rounded Edges : Preserves the integrity of the plate holder, prevents premature wear.
🔹 Simplified Storage : Flat, without constraints.
🔹 Made in France 🇫🇷 – 5-year warranty.

📏 Available formats:
- SAPI 25x30 cm
- Swimmer-Cut 25x30 cm
- Side plates 15x15 cm
Ballistic Tests – FI/RA FLEX™ (NIJ 3++ SS109 / VPAM 7)
All our plates are tested to NIJ standards in a ballistics laboratory. These tests ensure their reliability and effectiveness, in accordance with the strict criteria of the US National Institute of Justice. Your protection is our priority.
Caliber | Speed | Number of shots | Standard | Average Sinking |
---|---|---|---|---|
5.56 x 45 SS109 | 955 m/s | 6 | NIJ 0101.06 (Specific Threats) | 12 mm |
7.62 x 51 M80 NATO | 847 m/s | 6 | NIJ 0101.06 | 37 mm |
Composition and Resistance
🛡 Advanced Materials :
✔️ Ballistic fibers : UHMWPE (Dyneema®) and/or Para-Aramid (Dupont®)
✔️ Ceramic : Alumina (Coorstek®)
✔️ Cover : 100% polyamide with external polyurethane coating
🔹 Threats stopped:
✅ 5.56 x 45 SS109
✅ 7.62 x 51 M80 NATO
✅ 5.56 x 45 M855
✅ 7.62 x 39 MSC (AK-47)

Compatibility and Maintenance
✔️ Compatible with all Pangolin® vests and most western plate carriers.
🧼 Cleaning :
- Ballistic packs: Clean the envelopes with a damp sponge or cloth.
- Avoid detergents to avoid damaging the protection.
- Air drying, by draining .
📌 Pre-order possible in case of shortage – Delivery within 2 weeks.
NIJ (National Institute of Justice)
The most widely used American standard for certifying ballistic protection. Defines levels (II, IIIA, III, IV) according to the calibers and ammunition tested.
ICW (In Conjunction With)
Plate designed to be used with soft armor (NIJ 3A) to achieve its advertised level of protection.
Stand Alone (SA)
Self-contained plate that does not require a flexible insert behind it. Thicker and heavier than an ICW, but more practical.
SAPI (Small Arms Protective Insert)
NATO standard format for ballistic plates (≈ 25 × 30 cm). Serves as a reference for plate carrier compatibility.
Swimmer-Cut / Shooter-Cut
Specific plate cutouts to improve arm and shoulder mobility (shooting, swimming, close combat).
Backface deformation (BFD) / Trauma
The amount of deformation of a plate on impact, measured in mm. The lower it is, the less blunt force the wearer experiences.
Multi-hit / Multi-impact
A plate's ability to withstand multiple close-quarters shots without loss of performance.
UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene)
Ultra-light synthetic ballistic fiber (e.g. Dyneema®). Very strong and used for rigid or flexible plates.
Alumina
Ceramic commonly used in plates to break and slow projectiles. Less expensive but heavier than boron carbide.
Boron carbide
High-end ceramic, lighter and more resistant, used for high-level plates (NIJ IV).
MSC (Mild Steel Core)
Ammunition with a mild steel core, typical of the 7.62×39 AK-47.
NIJ 3++ SS109
Our NIJ 3++ plates stop:
- 5.56×45 SS109 / M855 — Partial steel core bullet, common on AR-15/M4 platforms.
- 5.56×45 M855A1 — more energetic variant of the M855, reinforced core.
- 7.62×39 (MSC) — standard AK-47 cartridge, often with a mild steel core.
- 7.62×51 M80 NATO — standard high-power NATO rifle bullet.
These rounds are light to medium rifle threats; our 3++ plates offer enhanced protection while remaining mobile.
NIJ 3++ API BZ
Our API BZ plates stop:
- 5.56 armor-piercing (API BZ) — bullets designed to pierce light armor thanks to a hard core.
- 7.62 piercing (API BZ) — piercing versions intended to penetrate standard protections.
Profile designed for hard-core projectiles (armor-piercing); protection focused on neutralizing armor-piercing munitions.
NIJ 4
Our NIJ 4 plates stop:
- .30-06 M2 AP — NIJ reference armor-piercing ammunition (high energy, hard core).
- 7.62×51 armor-piercing — high-penetration NATO caliber AP variants.
- 7.62×39 armor-piercing — armor-piercing versions of the AK caliber, with high penetration capacity.
NIJ Maximum Level: Designed to stop large caliber armor-piercing projectiles and provide the highest resistance.