NIJ 0101.07 Explained: The New Body Armor Levels

By The Release Desk · Updated Oct 17, 2026 · How we verify · Editorial standards

If you've shopped for plates or soft armor in 2026, you've seen labels like RF3 and HG2 where Level IV and IIIA used to be. That's NIJ Standard 0101.07, the National Institute of Justice's revision of its body armor standard, published in November 2023. Here's what changed, what each level is tested against, and what it means for the armor you already own, straight from NIJ's own documents.

The short version

• New names: Level II is now HG1, Level IIIA is HG2, Level III is RF1, and Level IV is RF3. RF2 is a new level in between.
• More rifle threats: rifle levels are now tested against 5.56mm and 7.62x39mm rounds, not only 7.62x51mm.
• Two documents: NIJ 0101.07 sets the test methods, and the new NIJ Standard 0123.00 defines the levels and test rounds.
• Your current armor is still fine: NIJ's advice to officers is "keep wearing the armor you have now," and it expects to keep the 0101.06 compliant list through at least the end of 2029.

Old levels vs new levels

NIJ renamed the levels to be "more descriptive of threats and to reduce confusion." HG means handgun and RF means rifle.

Mapping from NIJ's Table 1. The old Level IIA has no row in NIJ's new-level table.

What each level is tested against

NIJ Standard 0123.00 lists the exact test rounds and reference velocities. These are the threats a certified panel or plate has to defeat in testing.

Handgun levels

Rifle levels

From NIJ Standard 0123.00 as published on NIJ.gov, including Addendum 1, which changed the M80 mass for RF1 and RF2 to 149 +0/-3 grains.

Why RF2 matters to AR-15 owners

The 5.56mm M855 "green tip" round is one of the most common rifle cartridges in America. Under the old system, a Level III plate was only tested against 7.62x51mm M80 ball, so a buyer couldn't tell from the rating whether it would stop M855. NIJ's new RF1 level adds M193 and 7.62x39mm MSC to the M80 test, and RF2 adds M855 on top of that. NIJ calls RF2 "a new intermediate rifle protection level that includes all the threats at the NIJ RF1 protection level plus an additional threat." If you want a plate that's tested against the round most AR-15s shoot, RF2 is the level to look for. RF3, like the old Level IV, is tested against .30-06 M2 armor-piercing.

Note that RF3 lists only the .30-06 M2 AP round. An RF3 rating tells you it passed that test; it doesn't by itself tell you it was tested against M855 or M193. If those threats matter to you, check the maker's data and the NIJ listing for the specific model.

What else changed in 0101.07

Test methods moved to ASTM standards

NIJ 0101.07 references a suite of ASTM test methods and lab practices developed in ASTM Subcommittee E54.04, with NIJ, the U.S. Army, NIST, labs and manufacturers. NIJ says this harmonizes law enforcement and military test procedures where the same method applies.

Better testing for armor designed for women

The standard adds new clay appliques so curved, nonplanar panels sit properly against the clay backing during testing, plus new shot requirements to test shaping features and edges.

A new top-edge shot on soft armor

NIJ added a shot at the top center of soft armor panels at a 45-degree angle. NIJ explains that exploratory tests showed some handgun rounds striking the top edge at steep angles could deflect off a middle layer toward the neck. The new shot sets a minimum level of performance there.

A crown shot on curved plates

Hard armor testing now includes a shot on the crown of curved plates, the highest point of the strike face. NIJ says this location may be more vulnerable and that the change brings NIJ testing closer to U.S. Army plate testing.

What it means for armor you already own

NIJ's guidance is direct: "Most importantly, keep wearing the armor you have now." A Level IIIA vest or Level IV plate certified under 0101.06 didn't get worse when the standard changed. NIJ says its Compliance Testing Program "anticipates maintaining the 0101.06 Compliant Products List through at least the end of calendar year 2029," so agencies and manufacturers can transition. Initial type testing under 0101.06 has ended, according to the program's administrator, CJTTEC, so new models are certified to 0101.07.

NIJ has published its first list of armor found compliant with 0101.07, and it has issued three addenda to the standard with clarifications for labs and manufacturers. CJTTEC says follow-up inspection testing for 0101.07 models isn't expected to begin until the first quarter of 2027.

How to read an armor label in 2026

• "NIJ certified" vs "tested to": a model on NIJ's Compliant Products List has gone through the Compliance Testing Program. "Tested to" or "meets" language without a listing is the maker's own claim. Check the model on NIJ's list.
• Standalone vs ICW: a standalone plate is rated by itself. An "in conjunction with" (ICW) plate is rated only with a specific soft panel behind it.
• Old and new names on one label: many 2026 products, like RMA's "Level IV / RF3" plate, use both names during the transition. They map one-to-one except RF2, which has no old equivalent.
• Special threats: a level tells you what was tested. If you need protection from a specific round not on the list, look for that maker's published special-threat testing.

New 2026 armor we track

On our tracker, the Hesco RF3-400 is a standalone plate listed as certified to 0101.07 RF3, and the RMA Defense 1165 Gen 2 is marketed as Level IV / RF3. Plate carriers like the HRT XVC and Agilite K-Zero SF carry plates but aren't themselves rated. Body armor is legal for most law-abiding adults to own, but there are federal and state restrictions; see our body armor hub for the rules.

Frequently asked questions

What is NIJ 0101.07?

NIJ Standard 0101.07, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, is the National Institute of Justice's revised body armor standard, published in November 2023. It replaces 0101.06 from 2008 and uses the protection levels defined in NIJ Standard 0123.00.

What is RF3 equal to?

RF3 replaces the old NIJ Level IV. It is tested against the .30-06 M2 armor-piercing round at 2,880 ft/s.

What is the difference between RF1 and RF2?

RF2 includes every RF1 threat (7.62x51mm M80, 7.62x39mm MSC and 5.56mm M193) plus the 5.56mm M855 round at 3,115 ft/s. NIJ calls it a new intermediate rifle level.

Is HG2 the same as Level IIIA?

HG2 is the new name for Level IIIA. It is tested against 9mm 124 gr FMJ at 1,470 ft/s and .44 Magnum 240 gr JHP at 1,430 ft/s.

Is my Level IV plate still good under 0101.07?

A plate certified under 0101.06 is not made obsolete by the new standard. NIJ advises officers to keep wearing their current armor and expects to keep the 0101.06 compliant list through at least the end of 2029. Follow the maker's service life and inspection guidance.

Sources

1. NIJ: Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0101.07
2. NIJ: Standard 0123.00, Ballistic Protection Levels and Test Threats
3. NIJ Standard 0101.07 (PDF)
4. NIJ Standard 0123.00 (PDF)
5. CJTTEC: NIJ Standard 0101.07 information (Compliance Testing Program)

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