Choosing
Assault Body Armor Kit: What Is Included and How Much It Weighs
· 5 min read · Andrey Sokolov
Assault body armor is a configuration, not a protection class. The kit covers most of the body and weighs 9-15 kg. Each zone has its own class, and Br5 is found only where the plates are.
What an assault body armor kit includes: the short answer
| Component | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Vest with a soft ballistic panel | protects the torso front, back and sides |
| Armor plates on chest and back | protection against assault rifles and rifles |
| Cummerbunds | side bands with panels that cover the sides |
| Neck and throat guards, shoulders, arms, hands, groin, thighs | removable modules that add coverage |
| KAP | spacer pads between vest and body for an air gap and ventilation |
| Helmet mount and bag | carrying the helmet and the kit |
More modules mean more coverage and more weight. The modules attach with hook-and-loop and straps; no tools are needed to remove them.
How much assault body armor weighs
Weight is the sum of the vest, plates and modules; there is no general standard for it. Military armor systems of this type weigh 11-15 kg before pouches, water and ammunition.
| Model | What is included | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBSIDIAN Basic | Br2 vest, cummerbunds, collar, 2 KAP pads, helmet mount, plate pockets | 9 kg | $733 |
| OBSIDIAN MAX | everything in Basic plus two Br5 plates and shoulder, arm, hand, groin and thigh protection | 15 kg with plates, 9.4 kg without | $1,422 |
OBSIDIAN MAX weight by part: the vest alone, without modules or plates, is 3.3 kg; with modules, 9.4 kg; with two plates, 15 kg. The Br5 plates weigh 2.75 kg each: 5.5 kg a pair, more than a third of the kit's weight. The modules add about 6 kg, so it pays to remove those the task does not need. For OBSIDIAN Basic, plates are sold separately; the pockets are universal.
Which class each zone has
| Zone | Protected by | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Chest and back within the plates | ceramic plate on top of the soft panel | Br5 |
| Chest and back outside the plates | soft UHMWPE panel | Br2 |
| Sides | cummerbunds with a UHMWPE panel | Br1 |
| Neck | module with a UHMWPE panel | Br1 |
| Throat, shoulders, arms, hands, groin, thighs | modules with a UHMWPE panel | Br2 |
| Head | helmet not included; the vest has a mount for it | helmet's own class |
Br2 stops a 9×21 bullet from the SR-1 pistol and fragments, Br1 stops a 9×18 bullet from the Stechkin pistol. Assault rifle and rifle bullets are stopped by the plates. The classes are covered in detail in our article on body armor plates.
How assault armor differs from tactical armor
A tactical vest is torso protection for daily wear. Our models: a Br1 or Br2 soft panel with sides, plate pockets, 1.5-3.1 kg without plates. An assault kit takes the same base and adds modules for the neck, shoulders, arms, groin and legs; the weight grows three to five times.
Assault armor is chosen when the threat comes from all sides and coverage matters more than mobility. A tactical vest or a plate carrier suits long wear and movement.
What the MOLLE system on body armor is
MOLLE is rows of webbing on the vest for attaching pouches for magazines, a first aid kit, a radio or a tourniquet. On OBSIDIAN the webbing goes all around; on DARK ARMOR M-5 and ELITE BLACK it is on the front.
MOLLE webbing is not protection: more webbing means more room for gear, not a higher class. The webbing spacing is standard, so pouches move between vests from different makers.
How to wear a heavy kit
- Set the height: the top edge of the plate at the notch at the base of the throat, the bottom edge not blocking a squat.
- Tighten the cummerbunds: the vest should not bounce when you run or restrict breathing.
- Keep the KAP pads: they hold a gap between vest and body for air to move. More in our article on KAP pads and add-on protection.
- Remove modules the task does not need: each one adds weight.
- Test the kit in motion: squat, lie down, raise your hands to your face.
OBSIDIAN has four-point adjustment, quick release, cummerbunds on elastic straps and a reinforced handle on the back for dragging a person in the kit. The helmet attaches to the back, and there are loops for a hydration tube. It comes in three sizes: SMALL 44-48, MEDIUM 50-54 and LARGE 56-58.
Basic or full configuration
OBSIDIAN Basic is chosen when you already have plates or pick them separately. It is the base of the kit with a collar, without arm and leg protection.
OBSIDIAN MAX is the full kit with two Br5 plates and shoulder, arm, hand, groin and thigh protection. The price difference from Basic is $689. Both kits are made of IR remission (NIR-compliant) fabric, and we make them to measure at no extra cost.
Call 8 800 101-76-37 and tell us what you need protection from and how many hours a day you will wear the kit: we will choose the configuration and size. All models are on the "Tactical and assault" page.
FAQ
How much does assault body armor weigh? OBSIDIAN Basic weighs 9 kg without plates according to the catalogue. OBSIDIAN MAX: 3.3 kg for the vest, 9.4 kg with modules, 15 kg with modules and two Br5 plates.
Is assault body armor always Br5? No. Br5 is within the plates; the panel around the plates and the modules are Br1 or Br2. Check the class of each zone in the documents.
How much does assault body armor cost? As of 09.10.2026, OBSIDIAN Basic costs $733 and OBSIDIAN MAX with two Br5 plates costs $1,422. Prices on our website are lower than on marketplaces.
Is there class 6 assault body armor? Class Br6 under GOST is a 12.7 mm bullet from a heavy rifle at 50 metres. Our kits are designed for plates up to Br5: within the plates they stop 7.62×54R rifle and armor-piercing bullets.
Why does assault armor need IR remission? In night vision, IR remission fabric looks like the surroundings rather than a bright patch. Both OBSIDIAN kits are made of this fabric; more in our article on IR remission.
