| 1. A personal armor for protection against large caliber armor piercing projectiles comprising a ceramic layer with a first
confinement layer on a front thereof, said ceramic layer being backed by a first nonporous solid metallic layer of high strength
and ductility for distributing an impact load from a projectile and ceramic debris and for confining the debris in an impact
zone within said ceramic layer, said first nonporous solid metallic layer being thinner than said ceramic layer, said first
nonporous solid metallic layer being 1.11 mm or less in thickness and backed by a ballistic composite layer made of ballistic
fabrics, fabric weaves and polymeric matrix materials for stopping a projectile and ceramic debris while minimizing deformation,
with the various layers being bonded together by a suitable adhesive, said sequence of ceramic layer, nonporous solid metallic
layer and ballistic composite layer exhibiting a back face deformation of 44 mm or less in clay as measured in accordance
with a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standard when impacted on a front surface of said ceramic layer by projectile threats
corresponding to NIJ Threat Levels up to 0.50 caliber, armor piercing, high energy projectiles.
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