What Armor Express does

Armor Express, legally Central Lake Armor Express, Inc., is a U.S. manufacturer of ballistic protective equipment founded in 2007 and headquartered in Central Lake, Michigan with primary manufacturing operations in Eden, North Carolina and a Ballistics and Carrier R&D facility in Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes body armor systems — soft ballistic panels (Razor, Vortex, Quantum, FMS, Gemini/Taurus series in NIJ threat levels II through IIIA plus spike protection), hard armor (rifle plates, ACH helmets, TacS-S1 ballistic shields), and a modular carrier platform (concealable, outer, tactical, plate, K-9 carriers) — under its own brand and as OEM/private label for HESCO, INTEGRIS, and Buffalo Armory. Proprietary technologies include AEVent with brrr® thermal management, nGuard® antimicrobial protection, FirstSpear TUBES quick-release integration, COBRA® buckles by AUSTRIALPIN, and the Advanced Shoulder Pad and Quad Ventilation Liner systems. All soft armor is NIJ 0101.06 certified and the operation is ISO 9001:2015 certified by Amtivo.

The company sells primarily to government and public-safety buyers — U.S. federal/military agencies (SPC, USMC Plate Carrier, MSV Gen II, Blast Pelvic Protector), law enforcement departments, fire/EMS, corrections, and private security — through a multi-channel model: direct federal and military sales teams, GSA Schedule #GS-07F-0153T, NASPO ValuePoint, an authorized distributor network, and a registered-buyer Gear Up e-commerce portal. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; products include custom-sized armor with a stated 50-day average lead time and a 30-day custom fit guarantee. Notable deployments include over 60,000 SPC units issued to combat troops in Afghanistan and a long roster of municipal departments documented through the SAVES Program. Armor Express is privately held with no disclosed external institutional ownership, funding rounds, or M&A activity in the source materials.

The business is anchored by long-cycle government contracts and recurring institutional procurement, with custom sizing and warranty services (5-year soft ballistic, 24-month carrier, 5-year hard armor) supporting customer stickiness. Product innovation is driven by an in-house ballistics and carrier R&D team and ongoing end-user engagement, with 2026 launches of the RAVEN Hybrid carrier and TacS-S1 shields signaling continued portfolio expansion within the established vertical.

Name

Armor Express

Legal name

Central Lake Armor Express, Inc.

Website

https://armorexpress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Armor Express is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of NIJ-certified body armor — soft ballistic panels, hard armor plates and shields, and modular carrier systems — selling to federal/military, law enforcement, fire/EMS, corrections, and private security buyers via GSA/NASPO contracts, distributors, and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ballistic Body Armor

NAICS

Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (332994)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)

akta.pro primary industry

Armor Systems (Passive/Reactive/Active Protection) & Survivability Kits (IMABAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Safety & Law Enforcement Uniforms (CRAAALAC)

Keywords

• Ballistic body armor
• Soft armor panels
• Hard armor plates
• Tactical carriers
• Law enforcement equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Central Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hard Armor Sales: Sale of hard armor products including rifle plates, helmets, and ballistic shields. Products include Armor Express branded items (SURGE III ICW, ARA-Shock, TacS-S1 Series, AE ACH) and OEM products (HESCO, INTEGRIS). Available in various threat levels (III, III+, IV).
2. Soft Armor Sales: Sale of soft ballistic panels including Razor, Vortex, Quantum, FMS, and Gemini series. Available in multiple threat levels (II, IIIA) and constructions (Gender Neutral/Unstructured, Structured Female). All products are NIJ 0101.06 certified with 5-year warranty.
3. Carrier Vest Sales: Sale of carrier vests including concealable (Revolution, Hidden Defender), outer (Traverse, Hard Core), tactical (Raven, Fearless), plate carriers (519, SAU), and K-9 carriers. Custom sizing available with 30-day custom fit guarantee.
4. Custom Sizing Services: Custom-sized armor built to individual measurements with average 50-day lead time (Q1 2026 data). Includes virtual sizing sessions and comprehensive sizing guides.
5. Government Contract Sales: Sales through GSA Schedule (Contract #GS-07F-0153T) and NASPO ValuePoint contract vehicles for federal, state, and local government agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Armor Express designs, manufactures, and distributes ballistic protective equipment including soft armor panels, hard armor (rifle plates, helmets, ballistic shields), and carrier systems (concealable, outer, tactical, plate, and K-9 carriers). All soft armor is NIJ 0101.06 certified and the company offers custom-sized armor with a 50-day average ship time. Products are sold under Armor Express and OEM brands (HESCO, INTEGRIS) and are deployed across U.S. military, federal agencies, state and local law enforcement, corrections, fire/EMS, and private security markets.

Product overview

Armor Express is a manufacturer of ballistic protective equipment offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered around body armor carriers, soft armor panels, hard armor (rifle plates and helmets), and tactical accessories. The product line is organized across several categories: (1) Carrier systems including concealable carriers (Revolution, Hidden Defender, OCS, Equinox, Lo Pro, ULV), outer/tactical carriers (Traverse, Hard Core H3/FE/PT/GC, Raven, TORC, Lighthawk XT), plate carriers (519, SAU, Fearless PC), and K-9 carriers (ACV, TEX 10); (2) Soft armor panels spanning the Razor (XT, II, IIIA), Vortex (II, IIIA), Quantum (II, IIIA), FMS (II, IIIA), and Gemini/Taurus spike protection lines; (3) Hard armor including SURGE III/III+ ICW plates, TRITON III+ stand-alone plates, C-SHOCK special threat plates, ACH helmets, and TacS-S1 ballistic shields; (4) Federal and military products such as SPC Soldier Plate Carrier, USMC Plate Carrier, MSV Gen II, and Blast Pelvic Protector; (5) Accessories including pouches, bags, ID placards, medical supplies, and SRT battle belts. The company operates state-of-the-art manufacturing in Eden, NC with R&D facilities in Michigan, serving law enforcement, military, federal agencies, fire/EMS, and corrections sectors through GSA and NASPO contract vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Raven X Tactical Carrier A modular full-coverage tactical carrier system featuring AEVent with brrr® thermal management technology, available in MOLLE and Laser Cut configurations for law enforcement and tactical operations.
• Raven Hybrid Tactical Carrier A mid-coverage tactical carrier introduced in 2026 that balances high-speed agility with full coverage, featuring total ballistic accessory compatibility within the scalable RAVEN product line.
• TacS-S1 Series Ballistic Shields Lightweight, durable ballistic shields available in Level IIIA and III ratings with a tapered profile for confined spaces and balanced center-of-mass layout, designed for patrol rapid response and tactical teams.
• ACH Level IIIA Full Cut Ballistic Helmet Level IIIA ballistic helmet in a traditional ACH shape providing reliable head protection for agencies seeking certified ballistic protection within budget constraints.
• Traverse Outer Carrier Upgraded patrol outer carrier featuring AEVent with brrr® cooling technology, designed for easy donning and doffing in patrol and uniformed operations.
• Hard Core H3 Tactical Carrier Lightweight yet robust tactical carrier with AEVent brrr® technology for thermal management, available in MOLLE or Laser Cut configurations with generous customization options and dual thermal management systems.
• 519 Laser Cut Plate Carrier Plate carrier compatible with the Xpando Cummerbund System offering side armor insert options and quick-release closure systems.
• SRT Padded Battle Belt Tactical belt platform available in MOLLE and laser cut configurations with padded insert, optional ballistic insert, COBRA® buckles by AUSTRIALPIN, celled MOLLE fields, and suspender compatibility.
• Razor Soft Armor Panel Series NIJ 0101.06 certified soft ballistic panels (Razor II, Razor IIIA, Razor XT IIIA) with 0.14–0.21 inch thickness range, available in gender neutral construction with 5-year warranty and special threat testing.
• Vortex Soft Armor Panel Series NIJ 0101.06 certified soft ballistic panels (Vortex II, Vortex IIIA) launched in 2018 in gender neutral construction with areal densities of 0.86–1.14 lbs/ft².
• Quantum Soft Armor Panel Series NIJ 0101.06 certified soft ballistic panels (Quantum II, Quantum IIIA) launched in 2018 in gender neutral construction with areal densities of 1.05–1.23 lbs/ft².
• FMS Soft Armor Panel Series NIJ 0101.06 certified soft ballistic panels (FMS II, FMS IIIA) launched in 2018 in gender neutral construction with areal densities of 1.31–1.53 lbs/ft².
• Gemini Dual-Threat Armor Panels Dual-threat soft armor panels (Gemini IIA Spike 3, Gemini IIIA Spike 3) launched in 2018 providing combined ballistic and Spike 3 stab protection in gender neutral construction.
• Taurus Spike Protection Series NIJ 0115.00 certified stab protection armor series launched in 2018 offering Spike 1, Spike 2, and Spike 3 threat level options in minimal-thickness gender neutral panels.
• SURGE Rifle Plate Series Hard armor rifle plates (SURGE III ICW in advanced UHMWPE, SURGE III+ ICW in ceramic/composite) NIJ 0101.06 certified for Level III and III+ threats with 5-year warranty.
• TRITON III+ SA Rifle Plate Level III Plus stand-alone rifle plate using high-hard steel construction at 0.21 inch thickness and 7.05 lbs weight, NIJ 0101.06 certified with 10-year warranty.
• SPC - Soldier Plate Carrier System
• USMC Plate Carrier U.S. Marine Corps plate carrier vest with cummerbund-style main vest, 2-point cutaway system, integrated side protection, and communication routing channels.
• MSV Gen II Modular Scalable Vest Army Modular Scalable Vest Generation II with tactical and concealable components, emergency egress quick-release system, and lightest fielded ballistic at 0.86 PSF.
• Blast Pelvic Protector (BPP) Soldier protective accessory providing 9mm and fragmentation protection to the pelvic area, developed through a multi-year military development program.
• Hard Core GC Federal Carrier Federal-grade tactical carrier with adjustable shoulders and waist, BRAVO cut panels, laser cut MOLLE design, AEVent technology options, and FirstSpear Tubes cummerbund compatibility.
• Hidden Defender 2.0 Concealable Carrier Concealable carrier designed for federal use, available in black and white with standard fit options for plainclothes federal agents.
• Custom Sizing Service Custom-sized armor built to individual measurements with virtual sizing sessions and step-by-step measurement guides, featuring a 50-day average lead time and 30-day custom fit guarantee.
• Warranty Service Comprehensive warranty coverage including 24-month carrier warranty, 5-year soft ballistic panel warranty, and 5-year hard armor warranty for branded products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 days average custom armor ship time (Q1 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GSA (General Services Administration)coreOthersGSA Schedule Contract #GS-07F-0153T enabling direct sales to federal government agencies through the federal supply schedule. Contact: Donna Corbin, Contracts Administrator.
• NASPO ValuePointcoreOthersNASPO ValuePoint contract vehicle for body armor and ballistic resistant products enabling state and local government purchases through authorized resellers. Contact: Rob Edwards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Galls: Galls is a major law enforcement uniform and equipment distributor carrying multiple body armor brands. It is comparable as a competitive buyer of law enforcement budget share, including ballistic vest and tactical carrier procurement.
• Revision Military: Revision Military designs and manufactures ballistic protective equipment including armor, helmets, and eyewear for military and law enforcement. It overlaps with Armor Express in tactical helmets (ACH-class) and military carrier programs.
• 5.11 Tactical: 5.11 Tactical manufactures tactical apparel, carriers, and accessories serving law enforcement, military, and civilian markets. While broader than body armor, it overlaps on tactical vests, plate carriers, and the law enforcement distributor channel.
• Propper International: Propper is a manufacturer and distributor of military and law enforcement uniforms and tactical gear with U.S. military contracts. It competes with Armor Express for military clothing and accessory budget allocation through DoD and GSA channels.
• Point Blank Enterprises: Point Blank is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of body armor and ballistic-resistant products serving law enforcement, military, and federal agencies. It is directly comparable to Armor Express in core ballistic vest and plate carrier categories, federal contracting motion, and NIJ-certified product portfolio.
• Safariland Group (Axon-owned): Safariland is a leading manufacturer of body armor, holsters, and law enforcement equipment, now part of Axon. It directly competes with Armor Express in concealable vests, tactical carriers, hard armor, and federal/law enforcement procurement channels.
• Avon Protection: Avon Protection produces military and law enforcement body armor, respiratory protection, and helmets. It is a direct peer in the personal protection segment with comparable NIJ/military-spec product lines and overlap with U.S. Department of Defense procurement customers.

Broad incumbents

• BAE Systems (Survivor / Personal Protection business): BAE Systems is a broad defense prime with significant personal protective equipment and survivability systems for U.S. and allied militaries. It overlaps with Armor Express in military combat helmets, body armor, and soldier protection programs but operates at much larger scale and contract scope.

Others

• DuPont (Kevlar / aramids): DuPont's Kevlar is a foundational ballistic fiber for soft body armor. It is comparable as an upstream supplier enabling ballistic protection products rather than as a direct competitor in finished vests/carriers.
• Honeywell (Spectra Shield / ballistic materials): Honeywell produces Spectra Shield and other high-performance ballistic fibers used by body armor manufacturers, including Armor Express's soft armor panels. It is an upstream materials supplier/partner rather than a direct competitor in finished armor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ArmorExpress
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArmorExpress
• Xx.com/armorexpress

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Armor Express