Taiwan to Procure 48,000 Advanced Boron Carbide Armor Plates to Boost Soldier Protection

In a major step to improve its military's battlefield protection, Taiwan has announced plans to acquire 48,000 boron carbide ceramic armor plates for its soldiers. These high-strength bullet-resistant plates are aimed at significantly increasing the survivability of frontline troops against armor-piercing rounds and shrapnel.

According to a report by the Taipei Times, the production of these plates will take place between 2028 and 2029, with the Taiwanese government setting aside around 840 million New Taiwan dollars (approximately $28.2 million) for the project. An initial small batch of 30 plates has already been purchased for testing, costing about 1.3 million New Taiwan dollars (roughly $46,900).

While the exact details about the new armor—such as weight, protection level, and intended units—have not been made public, the plates are expected to offer National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level IV protection. This means they can withstand hits from 7.62mm armor-piercing bullets, offering stronger defense than Level III armor, which Taiwan’s armed forces currently use.

The core material, boron carbide, is one of the hardest synthetic substances in the world, only surpassed by materials like diamond and cubic boron nitride. Its lightweight and ultra-tough properties make it an ideal choice for modern body armor, balancing protection with soldier mobility.

In a parallel armor upgrade effort, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is also overseeing the mass production of three-layer protective plates combining ceramic and polyethylene fiber. These were part of a NT$1.6 billion ($53.7 million) contract signed in February 2025 to produce 160,000 plates. These plates are modeled after the US military’s Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) and are designed to stop 5.8mm steel-core rounds used by the People’s Liberation Army of China, in addition to standard 7.62mm rounds.

Under this deal, 60,000 of these enhanced plates are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025, significantly improving troop protection across various units.

Together, these two major armor plate programs mark Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to modernize its military equipment amid rising tensions in the region. The combination of Level IV boron carbide plates and triple-layer composite armor reflects a clear shift towards upgraded personal protection for soldiers facing increasingly advanced threats on the battlefield.