When choosing an armored vehicle, it’s important to understand that not all all of them offer the same level of protection. The first step in selecting the right one is identifying the appropriate level of ballistic protection for your specific needs. This depends on several factors – such as the intended use of the vehicle, the level of potential threat, and whether the vehicle is meant for tactical operations or everyday transportation. 

Ballistic protection levels indicate the strength of the armor and the type of attacks it can resist. One widely accepted standard is, established by NATO for Standardization, which categorizes protection levels from STANAG 1 TO STANAG 6. There are also other recognized standards like those from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in the U.S., the British Ballistic Standard, and the German DIN, all of which provide similar guidelines to ensure consistent armor performance.

The threat level posed by firearms is influenced by factors such as the bullet’s shape, material, caliber, mass, and speed. To classify protection levels, rigorous testing is done using specific types of guns ,artillery and explosives . These tests ensure that the ballistic steel can withstand a defined number of bullets fired .