When the potential for armed opposition is high, ballistic shields, also known as ballistic blankets, can be used. Bullets and dangerous projectiles cannot pass through them. Special operations teams and emergency response teams around the world use these personal shields to neutralize threats as quickly as possible. Some of these situations involve high-risk search warrants, drug house raids, and active shooters, among others. According to the NIJ (National Institute of Justice), ballistic protection is categorized by levels.

NIJ ballistic levels differ in the following ways:

• Level II can stop a wide variety of handgun rounds, including 45 ACP, 9mm, S&W, .357, and other common types. These can be made from soft armor. In addition to being lightweight, comfortable, and easy to conceal, Level II body armor is also comfortable. However, in a blunt force trauma situation, it provides much better protection.
• A Level IIIA blasting resistance system can block most rifle rounds, or even 12-gauge shotgun slugs, as well as most handgun, rounds up to .44 magnum. Most soft armor is of Level IIIA. It is possible, however, to find rigid armor plates and ballistic shields rated at level IIIA. Soft armor and hard armor can both be used for these.
• A Level III ballistic shield is made from hard armor and is classified as rifle protection equipment. This level of armor is designed to resist 7.62mm FMJ (US military M80) rounds with 147 grains of mass and a velocity of 2780 ft/s. In addition to being called body armor plates, rifle plates or hard armor plates are also included in ballistic body armor. To stop six spaced hits of 7.62x51mm FMJ (the US military’s M80 formula), the rifle plates were designed to stop the velocity of ~2780 ft/s.
• Under NIJ 101.06 standards, Level IV ballistic plates are the highest-rated hard armor plates. It was designed to withstand a single bullet strike from an armor-piercing rifle. Level IV will protect against threats posed by armor-piercing rifles. Armor piercing (AP) bullets up to 7.62mm are defeated by these rifle plates.

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