What is MIL-DTL-46100 Armor Steel? – High Hardness Ballistic Grade for Defense and Security Applications

MIL-DTL-46100 Armor Steel is a military specification ballistic steel plate widely used by defense contractors, vehicle OEMs, and security infrastructure fabricators worldwide. It is specified by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and known for its high hardness, multi-hit ballistic resistance, and impact energy absorption capacity.

At Hindustan Steel Corporation, we supply material-grade equivalents to MIL-DTL-46100, including our proprietary HIND ARMOR 500 and HSC 500T plates, making it easier for Indian and international buyers to source high-performance armor steel at competitive prices.

Understanding the MIL-DTL-46100 Specification

MIL-DTL-46100 stands for “Military Detail Specification – High Hardness Armor Steel Plate.”

This standard defines the required chemical composition, mechanical properties, and ballistic performance criteria for steel used in armored vehicles, defensive structures, and protective barriers.

Key Features of MIL-DTL-46100:

• Hardness Range: 477–534 BHN (Brinell Hardness Number)
• Threat Protection: Designed to resist 7.62×51mm NATO ball, .30 caliber AP, and other rifle threats
• Plate Condition: Supplied in quenched and tempered form
• Multi-Hit Resistance: Engineered for repeated ballistic impact zones

Applications of MIL-DTL-46100 Armor Steel

Where is MIL-DTL-46100 steel commonly used?

Typical defense and security applications include:

Standards to Fabrication (H5 to H10)

Technical Standards and Equivalent Grades

While MIL-DTL-46100 remains the gold standard for U.S. defense projects, many international buyers use material-grade equivalents for cost and logistics reasons

Standard / Grade	Description
MIL-DTL-46100	Original U.S. Army armor plate specification
HIND ARMOR 500 / HSC 500T	Proprietary Indian equivalents supplied by Hindustan Steel Corporation
EN 1522 FB6 / FB7	European ballistic protection standards
STANAG 4569 Levels 2 / 3	NATO vehicle armor protection levels
NIJ Level III / IV (Material-Level Equivalent)	For bulletproof doors, walls, and vehicle shielding

Thickness Range and Available Plate Sizes

We offer MIL-DTL-46100 equivalent plates in various sizes and thicknesses to suit different vehicle armor, infrastructure protection, and security equipment manufacturing projects.

Parameter	Range
Thickness	6 mm to 50 mm
Width	Up to 2500 mm
Length	Up to 12000 mm
Custom Cut-to-Size	✅ Yes
CNC Drilling / Profiling	✅ Available

Available as raw sheets, cut-to-size blanks, or pre-drilled armor panel kits

Heat Treatment and Toughness

Every MIL-DTL-46100 equivalent plate supplied by Hindustan Steel Corporation undergoes precision quenching and tempering, ensuring:

• High surface hardness for ballistic protection
• Excellent ductility and toughness, preventing brittle failure
• Multi-hit resistance for critical defense zones
• Impact energy absorption capacity for blast-prone areas

We also provide Charpy Impact Test reports for projects requiring toughness verification

Machining, Cutting, and Welding Tips

Due to its high hardness, MIL-DTL-46100 grade steel requires careful fabrication techniques.

Recommended Practices:

Cutting:

• Use waterjet, plasma, or laser cutting
• Avoid excessive heat on critical ballistic zones

Drilling:

• Use carbide drills with coolant flooding
• Follow slow RPM and high feed rate for clean hole finishes

Welding:

• Preheat at 150–250°C for plates over 10 mm thick
• Use low hydrogen electrodes (E7018 / E10018)
• Consider post-weld stress relieving for large components

Bending/Forming:

• Feasible for thinner gauges (up to 8 mm)
• For thicker plates, prefer hot forming or modular assembly

Why Buy from Hindustan Steel Corporation?

• Indian Supplier of MIL-DTL-46100 Equivalent Armor Steel
• Ready Stock of HIND ARMOR 500 and HSC 500T Plates
• Custom Cutting, Drilling, and Profiling Available
• Ballistic Test Report Support on Request
• Export-Ready Packaging with Full Certifications
• Serving Defense Contractors, OEMs, and Security Infrastructure Builders
• Competitive Prices Compared to Imported Armor Steel

We’ve supplied high hardness ballistic steel plates for military vehicles, security doors, embassy walls, and government tenders across India and overseas.

Popular Variants / Related Grades

Buyers looking for MIL-DTL-46100 armor steel also inquire about:

• HIND ARMOR 500
• HSC 500T Tactical Armor Plate
• EN 1522 FB6 / FB7 Panels
• STANAG 4569 Armor Steel
• NIJ Level III / IV Ballistic Plates

Need help with thickness or grade selection?
Contact our technical sales team now.

Export to FAQs (H11 to H15)

Export Destinations and Packaging

We export MIL-DTL-46100 equivalent plates to:

• UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nigeria

Export Packaging Includes:

Seaworthy pallets and crates
VCI rust protection wrapping
Edge guards and labeling
Export documents: Packing List, Commercial Invoice, MTC, Ballistic Declaration (on request)

Buyer Guide / Selection Tips

Choose the right thickness based on your threat level (Rifle, AP, Blast)
Share your project drawings for CNC cutting and drilling
Confirm if third-party ballistic certification is needed
Finalize your required delivery schedule and destination

Our team can assist with grade comparison, spec sheet selection, and ballistic performance recommendations.

Certifications, Approvals, and Test Reports

For every supply, we provide:

Mill Test Certificates (MTC)
Ballistic Test Reports (chargeable, on request)
Third-Party Inspection Reports (SGS, BV, Lloyds, etc.), if needed
Ballistic Compliance Declaration
Heat Number Traceability

We also support sample plate testing for defense tenders and OEM trials.