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RMA Defense

1165 Gen 2 Lightweight Level IV Plate

RMA's lightest Level IV. 5.3 lb of HyPure alumina + Dyneema in a 0.7-inch package. Full .30-06 M2AP protection at a pound less than the standard 1155 — the right pick when weight matters more than $100.

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Quick Specs

Price
$350
Weight
5 lb 4.8 oz
Brand
RMA Defense
Category
apparel

Features

  • NIJ 0101.07 tested (Level IV / RF3)
  • Weight: 5.3 lb (M Shooter's Cut)
  • Thickness: 0.7 in
  • 99.7% HyPure alumina + Dyneema backer
  • Edge-to-edge strike face
  • Multi-curve fit

Overview

The 1165 Gen 2 is RMA's "weight matters" Level IV plate. It uses 99.7% HyPure alumina-oxide ceramic — a higher-purity ceramic compound than the standard 1155 — bonded to a Dyneema UHMWPE backer, which delivers full Level IV / RF3 protection in 5.3 lb at 0.7 inches thick. That is roughly a pound lighter and a quarter-inch thinner than the standard 1155 for the same threat coverage.

The edge-to-edge strike face is the construction detail that earns the weight savings. Most ceramic plates have a strike face that stops short of the plate edges with a soft armor wrap around the perimeter; the 1165 extends the ceramic to the edges, eliminating the soft-wrap weight while keeping the multi-curve form. Weight breakdown: 5.3 lb in medium Shooter's Cut, 6.1 lb in medium SAPI. Threat coverage is identical to the 1155 — .30-06 M2AP, M855A1, M855, 7.62x39 MSC, M80 NATO, API-BZ.

Where this plate makes sense: you are running a 4-plate setup (front, back, two side plates) and the weight difference between 1155 and 1165 across four plates is 4-6 lb of carried load. For a single front plate, the cost-per-pound-saved math is harder to justify. For a full kit at the limit of what you will wear for a full shift, this is the plate.

Key Features

  • 5.3 lb at size M Shooter's Cut — lightest in RMA's Level IV lineup
  • Full Level IV / RF3 threat coverage including .30-06 M2AP
  • 99.7% HyPure alumina ceramic + Dyneema backer
  • 0.7 in thickness (vs 0.9 in on standard 1155)
  • Edge-to-edge strike face (no soft-wrap weight)
  • Multi-curve form factor
  • Shooter's Cut and SAPI cut available

Pros

  • +Roughly a pound lighter than standard ceramic Level IV
  • +Quarter-inch thinner profile under a low-profile carrier
  • +Higher-purity ceramic = better edge-impact performance
  • +Full Level IV coverage with no protection compromise

Cons

  • Costs ~$150 more per plate than the standard 1155
  • Tested-to-standard, not NIJ-certified-listed yet
  • Edge-to-edge ceramic is more impact-sensitive at corners
  • Direct vendor link only (no affiliate-tracked deeplink)

Detailed Specifications

protection
Level IV / RF3 (NIJ 0101.07 tested)
threats
.30-06 M2AP, M855A1, M855, 7.62x39 MSC, M80
Material
99.7% HyPure alumina ceramic + Dyneema UHMWPE backer
weight
5.3 lb (M Shooter's Cut), 6.1 lb (M SAPI)
thickness
0.7 in / 17.8 mm
cut
Shooter's Cut, SAPI
curve
Multi-curve, edge-to-edge strike face
cover
600D water-resistant fabric
madeIn
Centerville, Iowa, USA

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