Special protection vehicles have different armor resistance classes. This armoring is referred to as Vehicle Resistance (VR) and the corresponding classes are divided from one to ten. VR1 is the lowest level of armoring, while VR10 is the maximum. Some resistance classes are only given a "B", but this does not correspond to any standard. These are rarely armored vehicles, but rather vehicles in which individual components are specially protected. However, this poses a major risk to the occupants and the transported goods.
To determine the vehicle resistance, the caliber, firing distance, impact velocity, type of weapon and bullet energy are taken into account. VR1, for example, protects against a small-calibre rifle at a firing distance of around ten meters, an impact velocity of around 360 meters per second and a bullet energy of 168 joules. In contrast, resistance classes VR6 up to and including VR9 are also suitable for assault rifles. They differ only in terms of caliber, impact velocity and bullet energy. VR10 additionally protects against rifles with a bullet energy of 3,846 joules.
Ballistic protection is used, for example, for armored personnel carriers or vehicles used in criminal attacks such as robberies. Resistance class VR7 and higher is primarily aimed at security authorities that transport constitutional bodies and foreign guests in armored vehicles. The resistance classes are rarely used in special military vehicle construction. In order to take account of the increased danger posed by artillery, there are further-reaching standards such as STANAG 4569.
