The changes are part of a voluntary program from the National Institute of Justice to establish minimum performance requirements and test methods for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor to improve performance so that officers receive adequate protection. Body armor must now be able to defend against higher-caliber ammunition to better reflect current street threats and law enforcement duty weapons.

Safariland says it is one of the first body armor manufacturers to satisfy the new requirements.

“We’ve used our most advanced technologies, including proprietary designs and leading-edge materials, to develop body armor models that provide enhanced ballistic protection to law enforcement officers,” said Safariland President Scott O’Brien.