Spartan Armor Systems Flex Fused Core Level IIIA Soft Body Armor Side Panels

***Estimated Delivery: 2-4 weeks

The Spartan Armor Systems Flex Fused Core Level IIIA Soft Body Armor Side Panels deliver pistol-rated ballistic coverage in a concealable, low-profile form factor built from American-made aramid fibers and assembled in Tucson, Arizona. Designed to fill the side plate pockets of a plate carrier or tactical vest, the panels extend HG2-level protection to the torso flanks — areas left exposed by front and rear plates alone. Available in four sizes (5"x11", 6"x6", 5"x7", and 6"x8"), each set ships as a pair at a combined weight starting at 0.35 lb per panel, with a 0.35" (8.89 mm) thickness profile that seats flush inside standard side pockets.

Who this is for

  • Plate carrier users seeking fuller coverage: anyone running a front-and-rear hard plate setup who wants to close the ballistic gap at the ribs and obliques
  • Law enforcement and security professionals: officers and agents requiring discreet, all-day wearable side protection against handgun threats
  • Civilians prioritizing concealability: those who carry a plate carrier under outerwear and need a side panel thin enough at 0.35" not to print through a jacket

Threat coverage

The Flex Fused Core side panels are rated at NIJ HG2 / Level IIIA, the highest handgun protection level in the NIJ soft armor classification system. At this rating, the panels stop common pistol calibers including .44 Magnum and .357 SIG. The aramid fiber construction absorbs and disperses projectile energy across the woven panel structure.

These panels do not stop rifle-caliber threats. Anyone requiring rifle-rated side coverage should pair this carrier configuration with a hard armor side plate rated at Level III or higher.

Concealability and comfort

Each panel measures 0.35" (8.89 mm) thick — thin enough to sit inside a side pocket without creating visible bulk under outerwear. The aramid fiber build allows the panel to flex slightly with body movement rather than staying rigid, which reduces pressure points during extended wear. Weight per panel runs from 0.35 lb (6"x6") to 0.50 lb (5"x11"), keeping the total added load under 1.0 lb per pair for any size combination.

Care and maintenance

Soft aramid panels should not be machine washed or tumble dried. Remove panels from the carrier pocket before any cleaning cycle. Store flat or vertically in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. The Flex Fused Core side panels carry a 5-year warranty against manufacturer defects.

Specifications

  • Brand: Spartan Armor Systems
  • Model: Flex Fused Core Side Panels
  • NIJ Designation: HG2 / Level IIIA
  • Material: Aramid fibers
  • Available sizes: 5"x11", 6"x6", 5"x7", 6"x8"
  • Thickness: 0.35" (8.89 mm)
  • Weight — 5"x11": 0.50 lb (0.23 kg) per panel
  • Weight — 6"x6": 0.35 lb (0.16 kg) per panel
  • Weight — 5"x7": 0.40 lb (0.18 kg) per panel
  • Weight — 6"x8": 0.45 lb (0.20 kg) per panel
  • Sold as: Set of two panels
  • Country of manufacture: USA (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Warranty: 5-year warranty against manufacturer defects
  • SKU: SAS-PLYIIIA-SIDE

Fit and carrier compatibility

These panels slot into the side plate pockets found on most plate carriers and tactical vests. The 5"x11" and 6"x8" formats suit the deeper rectangular side pockets common on full-size carriers, while the 6"x6" and 5"x7" options fit compact or minimalist side pocket configurations. Measure your carrier's side pocket opening before selecting a size. Contact us if you need help matching a panel size to your specific carrier.

Frequently asked questions

What carriers are these side panels compatible with?

They fit any plate carrier or tactical vest with side plate pockets that match the panel dimensions. The four available sizes (5"x11", 6"x6", 5"x7", 6"x8") cover most standard side pocket formats. Measure your pocket's interior dimensions and select the closest match. Contact us if you are unsure which size suits your carrier.

Are these panels NIJ Listed or NIJ Certified?

The Flex Fused Core panels carry an HG2 / Level IIIA designation. For current NIJ Compliant Products List status, check the NIJ CPL at nij.ojp.gov directly — CPL listings are updated by the NIJ on a rolling basis and reflect the most current verification data.

Will these side panels stop rifle rounds?

No. HG2 / Level IIIA is a handgun-rated designation. These panels stop pistol-caliber threats up to .44 Magnum and .357 SIG. They do not provide protection against rifle-caliber projectiles. For rifle-rated side coverage, pair your carrier with a hard armor side plate rated Level III or higher.

How thin are these panels — will they print through a jacket?

Each panel is 0.35" (8.89 mm) thick. At that profile, the panels seat flush inside a standard side pocket and do not create significant visible bulk. The aramid fiber construction also allows a degree of flex, which further reduces visible rigidity under outerwear.

Can I wash these panels?

No — do not machine wash or tumble dry soft aramid panels. Remove them from the carrier before any wash cycle. Spot clean the panel surface only, and store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight.

Can these be shipped to my state?

These panels cannot be shipped to New York or Connecticut due to state body armor restrictions. All orders are subject to US export regulations. Under 18 U.S.C. § 931, anyone with a federal felony conviction for a crime of violence is prohibited from purchasing or possessing body armor.

 

Bulletproof Zone will ship orders as soon as possible. For example, if you purchase three items, they will be shipped to you based on lead time and availability. This way you get as much of your order as soon as possible, which means that your order may come in separate packages, especially if you order products from different manufacturers.

We will bear the shipping cost for products returned because of product defect, misrepresentation, or false description. Afterward, we will initiate a full reimbursement should you decline an offer to replace the item with the same item of equal value and assured quality.

Order Confirmation:

As soon as you place your order with Bulletproof Zone, you will receive an order confirmation e-mail. This means that your order has been logged in our system and your credit card has been pre-authorized for the purchase. Afterward, we contact our suppliers to confirm the availability of the product you are ordering for immediate shipment. If your item is on backorder or unavailable, we will cancel the pre-authorization and duly inform you via e-mail.

Order Shipment:

Orders are shipped within five business days from the date of your order unless specified otherwise on the product page. The product page will contain the most accurate estimate on shipping and lead times. Shipping and lead times provided on the product page are our best estimates based various factors including order volume, information from our manufacturer, raw material fluctuations, etc., and may vary due to these factors. 

You will receive an email containing the tracking information of your order after the order has been shipped to your location. If you do not receive tracking information from us within seven business days of the lead time specified on the product page, feel free to follow up with us at orders@bulletproofzone.com.

 

Bulletproof Zone is not responsible for lost or stolen packages. A tracking number will be provided when the package is shipped. It is the buyer’s responsibility to provide a safe place to receive mail. Once an item has been marked as delivered by the carrier, the seller is not responsible should that item go missing. 

Some of our products are carried by manufacturers in various countries. Due to the nature and cost of the products that Bulletproof Zone sells, you may be charged additional import duties upon delivery. Our support team can help in investigating abnormally high import duty charges but we are unable to cover the cost of any import duties.

Damages:

We take full responsibility for any obvious damage to your product caused by wrong packaging or delivering an already defective product. Please inspect the packaging of your item(s) when they arrive, if you notice any damage, you should document it when signing for delivery. If the item(s) contained in the package arrives damaged, please send photos to support@bulletproofzone.com, and we will process an insurance claim on your behalf. 

Returns and Cancellation Policy:

We back all our products with a customer satisfaction guarantee, so we created a fair return and cancellation policy.

All sales are final. No Refunds, No Cancellations. In most cases, once the order is processed, it is final and not cancellable. We may allow exceptions due to an order error or wish to return your order after delivery for any reason other than a product defect or misrepresentation. Any cancellation request is subject to an administration and cancellation fee equal to 10% of your order with a minimum of $35, whether order shipment is successful or not. 

 

All sales are final on all closeout items and for custom manufactured bulletproof clothing once the manufacturing process has begun or not returnable unless there is a product defect or misrepresentation. Applicable to brands such as MC Armor, Israel Catalog, BulletBlocker, Tacticon Armament, Wonder Hoodie, and others. 

Before returning any product, you MUST obtain a return authorization from our customer service representative. We can only process AUTHORIZED returns for items.

To make a Return or Exchange: 

  • Obtain authorization for return or exchange by emailing us at support@bulletproofzone.com explaining the reason for the return or exchange.
  • Please use or indicate your order number as attention

Return or exchanges request submission must be within 14 calendar days upon receipt of shipment unless noted otherwise on the product description page.  Your return must be in original packaging and unused.

We encourage using USPS flat-rate shipping in returning products to receive a shipping expense refund. Buyers must ensure all returned parcels delivery receipt AND signature confirmation. We highly recommend insuring your parcel as we cannot issue a refund for an item that we do not receive back should it get lost/damaged during transit.

Refunds:

Should an item be returned because it was defective, misrepresented, not as described, etc., Bulletproof Zone will issue a full refund and will reimburse the customer for all shipping expenses associated with the return.

Please allow 5-10 business days from the time the item is received to process a refund. Refunds will only be issued to the original credit card that you use when placing your order.

We stand behind our products 100%!

By purchasing any of our items, the buyer certifies they have read and agree to our shipping, return, and privacy policies.

The Bulletproof Zone Promise

When you buy body armor, you're buying your safety. We don't take that lightly. Here's what every order from Bulletproof Zone includes.

1. Authorized dealer of every brand we carry

Every plate, vest, and carrier we ship comes from the manufacturer directly to our warehouse. We don't sell gray-market product, surplus, or returns. That means factory-fresh stock, the full manufacturer warranty, and real after-sale support — the kind only an authorized dealer can offer.

We maintain authorized-dealer relationships with America's leading body armor brands, including Spartan Armor Systems, AR500 Armor, RMA Defense, Shellback Tactical, Caliber Armor, DFNDR Armor, Protection Group Denmark, BulletSafe, BulletBlocker, and over 40 more.

2. Best price, guaranteed

If you find a lower price at another authorized dealer of the same product within six months of your purchase, we'll refund the difference.

Why the "authorized dealer" requirement? Because gray-market and surplus armor may not be genuine, may have a compromised supply chain, and almost never comes with a manufacturer warranty. We won't price-match against products that may not actually protect you.

3. Free fitment consultation

Body armor only protects you if it fits. Email us a photo and your measurements before you order, and one of our specialists will help you size your carrier and plates correctly — at no charge, no obligation.

4. Trusted by thousands of customers

Bulletproof Zone has been a trusted authorized dealer of America's leading body armor manufacturers for over five years. We have over 4,000 verified Trustpilot reviews from real customers across all 50 states.

Price Match Guarantee — Terms

  • You must have purchased the item from our website before requesting the price match.
  • Discounted items and "free with purchase" items are not eligible.
  • The item must be in stock on the competitor's website at the time of your request.
  • The price match is valid for six months from the date of your purchase.
  • The competitor must be an authorized dealer of the product. Auction sites (eBay, Overstock), discounters, and gray-market resellers do not qualify.
  • The competitor must operate an online store. Brick-and-mortar-only retailers do not qualify.
  • Price match applies to the item price plus shipping. Sales tax is excluded.

To request a price match, email us a link to the product on our site and the same product on the competitor's site within six months of purchase. We'll process the refund.

Why Bulletproof Zone?

At Bulletproof Zone, we are passionate about protecting lives. Every piece from our catalog is designed and rigorously tested to provide the highest quality of protection you need from firearms, explosives or even close quarters combat.

We’ve partnered with various manufacturers that operate within the United States under a strict set of guidelines both on a national and corporate level so that when you shop with us, you will be able to select from the highest quality body armor, ballistic plates and tactical gear available on the market.

Whether you are a military service member looking to find your own gear, a professional that operates in the security field, or an avid firearms enthusiast that capitalizes the importance of safety when shooting, our tactical gear will provide you the level of protection you need.

Any questions or concerns? Please call us at (408)-909-4938 or email us at support@bulletproofzone.com and a member of our professional support team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
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E
E.C.

This feels so comfortable and im surprised how lightweight it is! I love it! Not to mention the fact it came SUPER FAST!!!

B
Brandon

Good stuff

L
Luis

Thank you for the panels, I arrive a day before the scheduled delivery, I want to see if you have 10 x 12 1/2 or 10 x 13 panels, thank you very much

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