UK Body Armour – Stab and Ballistic Resistant Vests

Body Armour Kits

Complete body armour kits
(carrier and protective panels)

Body Armour Carriers

Individual body armour carriers only

Body Armour Plates

Individual body armour plates only.

Level 3 Bullet Proof Body Armour Packages

We are Fortress Armour

Fortress Armour is a UK supplier of body armour and ballistic protection products.

Our armour is commonly referred to as a “stab vest” or “bullet proof vest” as those terms are more known to the general public.

Our leading product is our soft body armour package which offer knife and ballistic protection in a fully adjustable concealed carrier.

What is body armour?

Body armour is protective clothing designed to absorb and/or deflect an attack by a weapon. This could be a slashing or stabbing from a knife or a bullet from a gun.

Body armour has been around for several thousand years and began in Ancient China. The oldest known Western armour dates from the Mycenean Era around 1400 BC and was made using interlocking iron rings, commonly known as chainmail.

Today body armour has evolved and there are several types on the market. They are split into two main categories; soft and hard armour.

Soft armour is generally made from strong fibres like Kevlar and is flexible so can fit snugly around the torso of a human body. It’s lightweight and discreet appearance is useful for discreet operations however it is limited in it’s ability to stop higher calibre bullets from penetrating.

Hard armour is generally made from steel, ceramics or high density plastics. Plates are shaped to fit in front of the vital organs and are placed in tactical carriers worn overtly – or on top of clothing – by the user. The plates are not flexible and so only protect the vital areas but are preferred amongst military personnel and bodyguards as they are lightweight and can be adapted to hold other items, like a radio or backup weapon.

The different types of body armour and protection they offer is often referred to using a recognised standard, such as the American National Institute of Justice’s NIJ rating. The higher the level the more protective the armour, with common selections being NIJ Level IIIA offering protection from small arms fire up to a .44 magnum handgun. For those looking for high calibre rifle round protection then NIJ Level IV is preferred.

Important Note

All our armour is BRAND NEW, never re-conditioned, used or re-certified. Be very wary of buying second hand armour, you don’t know what stress it has been subjected too nor do you want to take a risk with your own personal safety.

Furthermore it is important to note that nothing is “stab proof” or “bullet proof”, these are just common terms people use when searching for armour which is why it has stuck around. There is always a weapon that can penetrate body armour and armour can fail when penetrated multiple times. Most armour is tested with 5 or 6 strikes in a laboratory to check it can hold up against an attack for which it is designed for.