The End of “Level III+”: How NIJ RF1, RF2, and RF3 Redefined Rifle Armor—and What Procurement Teams Must Do Now
For nearly two decades, rifle armor procurement operated on an illusion of simplicity.
If the mission demanded mobility, agencies specified Level III.
If maximum protection was required, they specified Level IV.
Everything in between—especially protection against 5.56×45mm M855 “green tip”—was left to marketing language, informal test reports, and vendor-specific claims. Terms like “Level III+” and “special threat” filled the gap, creating the appearance of precision without the substance.
That era is over.
With the publication of NIJ Standard 0123.00 and the transition to NIJ Standard 0101.07, rifle armor is now defined by explicit, testable threat categories: RF1, RF2, and RF3. These are not marketing labels. They are engineering and procurement standards—designed to remove ambiguity, reduce risk, and align armor performance with real-world threats.
For agencies, integrators, and manufacturers, this shift is not academic. It fundamentally changes how rifle armor must be specified, evaluated, and fielded.
Why the Old Model Failed
Legacy NIJ Level III armor was originally validated against a narrow threat set—primarily 7.62×51mm NATO M80 Ball. Over time, operational reality outpaced the standard. Agencies increasingly encountered:
5.56×45mm M193 at high velocity
7.62×39mm MSC from AK-pattern rifles
5.56×45mm M855, a steel-penetrator projectile that defeats many Level III plates
The industry responded, but not coherently.
Manufacturers advertised “Level III+” or “Level III++” plates claiming M855 defeat. Testing varied widely in velocity, shot placement, conditioning, and acceptance criteria. Procurement teams were left comparing unlike data, often without knowing it.
The result was predictable:
Inconsistent performance between plates labeled the same way
Buyer confusion and procurement risk
Overconfidence in armor that lacked standardized validation
NIJ recognized that the problem was not just armor—it was definition.
NIJ 0123.00: Defining the Threat Before Testing the Armor
NIJ Standard 0123.00 separates threat definition from armor test methodology. This is a critical structural change.
Instead of loosely tying threats to legacy “levels,” NIJ now defines rifle threats explicitly:
RF1 — Baseline Rifle Protection
RF1 replaces legacy Level III and requires defeat of:
7.62×51mm NATO M80 Ball
5.56×45mm NATO M193
7.62×39mm Mild Steel Core
These are the most common non-armor-piercing rifle threats encountered by law enforcement and tactical units.
RF2 — The Corrected Middle
RF2 requires defeat of all RF1 threats, plus:
5.56×45mm NATO M855 (SS109) steel-penetrator ammunition
RF2 exists for one reason: to formally close the M855 gap that legacy Level III never addressed.
RF3 — Armor-Piercing Rifle Protection
RF3 covers specified armor-piercing threats, such as:
.30-06 M2 AP
RF3 corresponds to legacy Level IV, with updated testing rigor under 0101.07.
This structure eliminates ambiguity. Every RF category is defined by specific projectiles at specific velocities—not by marketing interpretation.
NIJ 0101.07: Raising the Bar on How Armor Is Proven
If NIJ 0123.00 defines what armor must stop, NIJ 0101.07 governs how that claim is proven.
Published on November 30, 2023, NIJ 0101.07 introduces:
More rigorous environmental conditioning
Expanded shot placement requirements
Improved evaluation of female armor designs
Tighter consistency expectations across samples
The transition has been deliberate. New submissions began in late 2024, with hard armor Test IDs following shortly after. As of early 2026, the 0101.06 Compliant Products List remains active, while the first 0101.07 CPL is expected once sufficient models complete certification.
This means procurement teams are operating in a hybrid environment—where understanding the intent of the new standards matters as much as reading the CPL.
RF2: Where Engineering Discipline Matters Most
RF2 is not simply “Level III with more ceramic.”
Defeating M855 reliably requires a precise balance of:
Ceramic hardness and fracture behavior
Composite backer energy absorption
Edge and corner reinforcement
Weight discipline
Overbuild the plate and it approaches RF3 weight—negating its purpose. Underbuild it and performance becomes inconsistent, especially after environmental conditioning or multiple impacts.
RF2 is where system engineering separates real capability from brochure claims.
This is also why RF2 became the most abused category before NIJ formalized it—and why it is now the most scrutinized.
Procurement Reality: What Agencies Should Demand Now
With RF categories formally defined, procurement language must evolve.
Agencies should:
Specify NIJ 0123.00 RF categories explicitly
Avoid informal terms like “Level III+”
Require traceable third-party ballistic test data
Understand that “tested to” is not the same as NIJ compliance
Treat RF2 claims without documentation as a risk signal
Clear requirements protect both the agency and legitimate vendors—and reduce protests driven by ambiguous specifications.
Where Advanced Ballistic Systems Fits
Advanced Ballistic Systems exists at the intersection of standards, engineering, and execution.
Through our Technology & Innovation Center, ABS supports:
Threat mapping aligned to NIJ 0123.00
RF1, RF2, and RF3 armor development
Pre-submission ballistic and environmental testing
Documentation discipline for NIJ 0101.07 pathways
Scalable transition from prototype to fielded system
We do not treat RF categories as labels. We treat them as engineering problems constrained by real procurement rules.
The Bigger Shift: From Marketing Armor to Verifiable Protection
The most important change introduced by NIJ 0123.00 and 0101.07 is not technical—it is cultural.
Armor is no longer evaluated by what a vendor claims it can stop.
It is evaluated by what the standard explicitly defines and the data can support.
RF1, RF2, and RF3 represent the end of interpretive armor ratings and the beginning of verifiable, repeatable protection.
For agencies, this means better alignment between threat and equipment.
For manufacturers, it means engineering discipline replaces marketing creativity.
For procurement teams, it means clarity—finally.
Why This Matters Now
As NIJ 0101.07 certification accelerates through 2026 and beyond, RF-based requirements will become the norm—not the exception.
Organizations that adapt early will:
Reduce procurement risk
Improve operator protection
Avoid costly misalignment during the transition
Those that cling to legacy terminology will struggle to justify their choices.
The standards are clear.
The threats are defined.
The middle ground is no longer informal.
RF2 is real—and the era of “Level III+” is officially over.
Ready to Navigate the New RF Landscape?
Advanced Ballistic Systems works with agencies, OEMs, and integrators to translate evolving NIJ standards into field-ready protection—without ambiguity, shortcuts, or surprises.
Contact ABS to discuss RF1, RF2, or RF3 programs, testing strategies, and NIJ 0101.07 transition planning.
