MIL-12560 vs MIL-46100: Which to Choose?

Choosing between MIL-DTL-12560 (RHA) and MIL-DTL-46100 (HHA) can significantly affect your project cost, fabrication process, and ballistic performance.
At Hindustan Steel Corporation, we help buyers decide based on their specific protection level, fabrication method, and budget.

Let’s break down the difference between these two popular U.S. Military Armor Steel Standards.

Quick Overview of MIL-12560 (RHA) and MIL-46100 (HHA)

Specification	Full Name	Hardness	Common Use
MIL-DTL-12560	Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA)	250–300 BHN	Blast protection, structural reinforcement
MIL-DTL-46100	High Hardness Armor (HHA)	470–540 BHN	Multi-hit ballistic protection, rifle/AP defense

Key Applications of Each Grade

MIL-12560 (RHA) Applications:

MIL-46100 (HHA) Applications:

Mechanical Property Comparison

Property	MIL-12560 (RHA)	MIL-46100 (HHA)
Hardness	250–300 BHN	470–540 BHN
Tensile Strength	Lower	Higher
Elongation	Higher	Lower
Impact Toughness	High	Moderate
Ballistic Resistance	Against blast & low-velocity threats	Against rifle & AP threats

Standards to Fabrication (H5 to H10)

Which Standard Matches Your Ballistic Threat Level?

Threat Type	Recommended Grade
Blast & low-velocity fragment threats	MIL-12560 (RHA)
Direct rifle and AP threats	MIL-46100 (HHA)

If your project requires multi-hit protection from rifles, choose MIL-46100.
If you need blast energy absorption or structural flexibility, go for MIL-12560.

Thickness Range and Plate Sizes Available

Parameter	MIL-12560	MIL-46100
Thickness	6 mm to 50 mm	6 mm to 50 mm
Width	Up to 2500 mm	Up to 2500 mm
Length	Up to 12000 mm	Up to 12000 mm
Custom Cutting	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
CNC Drilling	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Both grades are available in cut-to-size, drilled, and profiling-ready formats from Hindustan Steel Corporation

Heat Treatment and Toughness Comparison

Feature	MIL-12560	MIL-46100
Heat Treatment	Normalized / quenched & tempered	Quenched & tempered
Blast Resistance	✅ Excellent	✅ Moderate
Bullet Resistance	✅ Low	✅ High

MIL-12560 is optimized for blast absorption, while MIL-46100 offers hardness-based projectile stopping power.

Fabrication: Welding, Bending & Cutting

Process	MIL-12560	MIL-46100
Welding	Easier	Requires preheat & controlled procedures
Bending	Better ductility	Limited cold bending (thinner plates only)
Cutting	Easier	Needs low heat input methods (waterjet/laser)

We offer pre-cut and pre-drilled plates for both grades to minimize onsite fabrication challenges

Why Buy Both Grades from Hindustan Steel Corporation?

• Stockist of both RHA and HHA grades
• In-house CNC cutting and drilling for both materials
• Hardness-tested material with MTCs
• Fast delivery from Mumbai warehouse
• Export packing for global buyers (UAE, Saudi, South Africa, Europe)
• Technical support for defense and OEM projects

Related Armor Grades Available

• HIND ARMOR 500 (HHA Alternative)
• HSC 500T (Tactical Grade)
• STANAG 4569 Level Armor Steel
• EN 1522 FB6 / FB7 Equivalents

Export Destinations for Both Grades

We export both MIL-12560 and MIL-46100 equivalents to:

✅ UAE
✅ Saudi Arabia
✅ South Africa
✅ Germany
✅ Indonesia
✅ Kenya

Packaging:
✅ Seaworthy pallets/crates
✅ VCI wrapping
✅ Grade and thickness markings
✅ MTCs and export documents

How to Choose Between MIL-12560 and MIL-46100?

• Choose MIL-12560 if your focus is blast protection or structural reinforcement.
• Choose MIL-46100 if you need direct bullet and multi-hit rifle protection.
• Consider dual-layer designs for combined threats (blast + ballistic).
• Share your project drawings for grade recommendation.
• Confirm welding and fabrication capabilities at your end.

Certifications, Testing & Compliance

For both grades, we provide:

• Mill Test Certificates (MTC)
• Hardness Test Reports
• Ballistic Compliance Declarations (on request)
• Third-Party Inspection Reports (SGS / BV / Lloyds)
• Sample plates for testing

FAQs: MIL-12560 vs MIL-46100