V-50 testing offers a clearer picture of body armour performance under varying conditions. Anorak’s Iridium HP.3.1001 plate was recently tested to assess its resistance beyond standard certification levels.

Greek based Anorak introduced its Anorak Harm Protection® line of body armour in 2016, designed to meet high international standards. The company has since expanded its capabilities with a new production line focused on supplying protective equipment for both local and global markets.

What is V-50 and why is it used?

While NIJ standards (Levels II, IIIA, III, and IV) are widely used to classify body armour, they rely on a simple pass/fail system—either the armour stops the round or it doesn’t. V-50 testing, however, provides a more detailed assessment. It measures the velocity at which a projectile has a 50% chance of penetrating the armour, offering a clearer picture of its performance limits.

In practice, testing involves firing rounds at varying speeds to determine the threshold between partial and complete penetration. A higher V-50 suggests stronger resistance to ballistic impact and can serve as a more precise benchmark for users who need to understand how armour performs under different conditions.

Testing the iridium HP.3.1001 plate

In recent tests, Anorak’s Iridium HP.3.1001 plate was exposed to 7.62x51mm M80 rounds at velocities up to 1036.6 m/s. The result was unusual: no complete penetrations occurred, even at the highest tested speeds. Because of this, a V-50 value could not be formally calculated—the plate simply didn’t fail under test conditions.

This outcome suggests that the armour performs significantly beyond standard Level III requirements. While not a guarantee of invincibility, the findings point to a high degree of resistance, which can be relevant for military and security professionals assessing equipment options.

Image credit: Cottonbro studio – Pexels