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Body armor in 2026: a practical guide

Hard armor, soft armor, helmets and shields in 2026: which standard applies to each, the dated NIJ milestones behind the current lists, and what to ask for any product.

ArmorList Editorial·January 26, 2026·4 min read

This is an overview of the main kinds of armor an end user or agency buys in 2026, the standard each one is tested to, and the dated NIJ records that shape what the lists show this year. It reports what those records say; it never ranks or endorses a product.

The dates that shape the lists

  • NIJ published Standard 0101.07 and Standard 0123.00 in November 2023. 0101.07 sets the requirements and test methods; 0123.00 defines the levels and test threats.
  • NIJ stopped accepting new 0101.06 models for testing on 5 January 2024. Listed 0101.06 models stay listed, subject to follow-up inspection and testing, and NIJ anticipates maintaining the 0101.06 list through at least the end of 2029. A 0101.06 listing is not expired.
  • Since October 2024 the compliance testing program evaluates ballistic armor against 0101.07, and NIJ has published the initial list of compliant 0101.07 models.

So in 2026 a buyer can meet models listed under either standard. Read which list an entry is on.

Hard armor

Hard plates are usually a hard strike face on a fiber backing, or a pressed fiber laminate. A ceramic strike face breaks up and blunts the round as it shatters, and the backing catches the fragments. Under 0101.07, rifle levels are RF1, RF2 and RF3. The level name points to the rounds and velocities in 0123.00, and a plate's listing says whether it was tested alone or in conjunction with a specific soft armor model.

Soft armor

Soft armor covers handgun threats under 0101.07 levels HG1 and HG2, and is built mainly from aramid and UHMWPE fibers. Care guidance from CJTTEC, which administers the program's lists, says to store armor flat in a dry, shaded place, avoid extreme heat or cold such as a vehicle trunk, air-dry panels flat without folding or creasing, and never machine-wash them. It also notes that ultraviolet light is known to degrade certain ballistic materials. Fit matters as much as the level: measure wearers to ASTM E3003, and match the size to the manufacturer's sizing for that exact model.

Helmets, shields and stab armor

  • Helmets. NIJ's helmet standard is 0106.01, from 1981. ASTM publishes E3368 for ballistic helmets worn by U.S. public safety officers. NIJ anticipates that future revisions of its helmet and shield standards will reference 0123.00.
  • Shields. Shields are not body armor and are not on the body armor CPL. ASTM E3347 is written for the whole shield; cite it with its edition: the current edition is E3347/E3347M-26 (checked 29 September 2026), and shields verified in 2025 were tested to -25. ASTM runs a verification program for these specifications, and in early 2025 ASTM reported that the NASPO ValuePoint cooperative contract intends to require verification for ballistic shields.
  • Stab armor. NIJ Standard 0115.00 has its own list. A ballistic level says nothing about stab protection.

What to ask for any product

  • Which exact model, and which list is it on: 0101.07, 0101.06, stab or combination?
  • What is its status (Active, Suspended or Inactive), and on what date was it read?
  • Which standard, edition and level was it tested to, and in what configuration?
  • For a helmet or shield, is the claim under the NIJ or the ASTM document, and is the model on the verifying body's list?
  • What warranty period does the manufacturer declare on the label?
In 2026, match each product to the standard written for it, find the exact model on that body's list, and record the date you read its status.

Sources

  1. NIJ, Compliant Products List: Ballistic Resistant Body ArmorRead September 25, 2026
  2. NIJ, Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats, NIJ Standard 0123.00Read September 25, 2026
  3. CJTTEC, NIJ Standard 0101.07 InformationRead September 25, 2026
  4. CJTTEC, Compliant Product ListsRead September 25, 2026
  5. CJTTEC, Body Armor FAQsRead September 25, 2026
  6. CJTTEC, Body Armor Care and ReplacementRead September 29, 2026
  7. NIST, Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2018 proceedingsRead September 25, 2026
  8. ASTM E3003-25, Standard Practice for Body Armor Wearer Measurement and Fitting of ArmorRead October 1, 2026
  9. NIJ, NIJ Standard for Ballistic Helmets, NIJ Standard 0106.01Read September 26, 2026
  10. ASTM E3368/E3368M, Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Helmets Worn by U.S. Public Safety OfficersRead September 26, 2026
  11. ASTM E3347/E3347M-25 (superseded by -26), Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Shields Used by Law Enforcement OfficersRead October 1, 2026
  12. ASTM E3347/E3347M-26, Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Shields Used by Law Enforcement OfficersRead September 29, 2026
  13. ASTM, Standards to Protect Those Who Protect UsRead September 26, 2026
  14. NIJ, Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0115.00Read September 26, 2026
  15. CJTTEC, Additional Information Regarding NIJ Body Armor Compliant Product ListRead September 29, 2026
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TopicsGuidanceOverview2026