RMA Armament
RMA Armament is a privately held, Iowa-based manufacturer of NIJ-certified ceramic and UHMWPE body armor plates (Level IIIA-IV), plate carriers, helmets, and tactical gear, selling direct-to-consumer and through national retailers like Evike, Brownells, and Scheels to law enforcement, military, first responders, and civilian buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersCenterville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What RMA Armament does
RMA Armament, Inc. is a privately held American manufacturer of NIJ-certified ballistic body armor and tactical gear, headquartered and operated from a single facility at 22800 Dewey Road, Centerville, Iowa. Founded by Blake, a U.S. Marine and former law enforcement officer, the company designs and produces ceramic and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite hard armor plates spanning National Institute of Justice (NIJ) protection levels IIIA through IV, with a flagship Generation 2 product family (Models 1155 and 1165) emphasizing multi-curve ergonomic geometry and reduced weight-to-protection ratios. The portfolio extends beyond proprietary plates into soft/concealable Level IIIA vests, plate carriers (sold under both RMA-aligned and third-party brands such as Crye Precision, Agilite, 0331 Tactical, and Condor), ballistic helmets (Team Wendy), Avon C50 CBRN gas masks, IFAK medical kits, trauma pads, steel targets, and tactical accessories such as belts and magazine pouches.
The company monetizes through one-time hardware unit sales at price points ranging from roughly $32 (trauma pads, mag pouches) to $889 (complete Crye Precision JPC 2.0 Level IV kit), with core plates priced between $129.99 (Level IIIA soft inserts) and $349.99 (lightest Gen 2 Level 4 plates). Distribution is hybrid: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at rmadefense.com (backed by military/first-responder discounts, an affiliate program, content marketing, and promotional events) combined with wholesale relationships through three national tactical retailers — Evike, Brownells, and Scheels — and a dedicated law enforcement quotes program for agency procurement. RMA also operates under the trade names RMA Defense, RMA Armor, and RMA Plates, and markets itself under the 'King of Armor' brand tagline. Customer segments span law enforcement, military, first responders, and law-abiding civilians, with sales restricted in Connecticut and New York due to state-level verification requirements. The company had 11-50 employees, no disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors, and operates as a founder-led independent corporation. Notable context includes a public dispute with NIJ over Safety Notice #05-2023 regarding the Level IV Model 1155, and past recognition via a Fox News 'Fox & Friends' feature and a White House honor.
RMA Armament firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RMA Armament
- Legal name
- RMA Armament, Inc.
- Website
- https://rmadefense.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RMA Armament is a privately held, Iowa-based manufacturer of NIJ-certified ceramic and UHMWPE body armor plates (Level IIIA-IV), plate carriers, helmets, and tactical gear, selling direct-to-consumer and through national retailers like Evike, Brownells, and Scheels to law enforcement, military, first responders, and civilian buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RMA Armament industry classification
Industry- 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
- Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)
Keywords
Where RMA Armament is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Centerville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
RMA Armament business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Body Armor and Plate Sales: Primary revenue stream from direct sales of ballistic body armor plates, soft armor vests, plate carriers, ballistic helmets, and tactical gear accessories through e-commerce and retail partners. One-time hardware purchase model with various NIJ protection levels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level 4 Body Armor Plates - Next Gen 1165 Gen 2 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level 4 Body Armor Plates - Model 1155 Gen 2 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level IIIA Soft Body Armor |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trauma Pads |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SRT Lightweight Body Armor Plate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Complete Armor Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Crye Precision JPC 2.0 Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plate Carriers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ballistic Helmets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Avon C50 Gas Mask |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | IFAK Medical Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Magazine Pouches and Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tactical Belts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
RMA Armament product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RMA Armament (operating as RMA Defense) designs, manufactures, and sells NIJ-certified ballistic body armor plates, concealable soft body armor, plate carriers, ballistic helmets, and tactical gear accessories. The product line spans Level IIIA, Level III, Special Rifle Threat (SRT), and Level IV protection using ceramic and UHMWPE composite materials, sold direct-to-consumer via rmadefense.com and through national retailers, with a dedicated Law Enforcement Quotes Program for agency buyers.
Product overview
RMA Armament is a manufacturer and retailer of American-made ballistic body armor and tactical gear. The product portfolio centers on NIJ-certified body armor plates at various protection levels (Level IIIA through Level IV), complemented by plate carriers, ballistic helmets, soft/concealable armor, tactical accessories, medical kits, and specialty gear. Core offerings include the 1155 and 1165 series ceramic armor plates, paired with branded and third-party plate carriers (Crye Precision JPC, 0331 Tactical, Agilite, Condor). The company also sells complementary products including gas masks (Avon C50), IFAK medical kits, tactical bags, belts, and apparel. Products are sold through direct-to-consumer e-commerce with national retail partners (Evike, Brownells, Scheels).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- King of Armor: Marketing tagline for RMA Armament, used in website branding and footer.
Products and services
- 1155 Generation 2 Level 4 Body Armor Plate
- 1165 Generation 2 Lightest Level 4 Body Armor Plate
- SRT (Special Rifle Threat) Lightweight Body Armor Plate
- Level IIIA Concealable Body Armor Vest (Protego / Contego)
- Level IIIA Concealable Body Armor Shirt (Virtus)
- Trauma Pad (Stab and Ballistic Resistant)
- Level IV Body Armor Kit (Plate + Carrier Bundle)
- Crye Precision JPC 2.0 Plate Carrier
- Sierra Plate Carrier (0331 Tactical)
- Tailwind Plate Carrier (0331 Tactical)
- Agilite K19 Plate Carrier 3.0
- Agilite K Zero Plate Carrier
- Condor MOPC Gen II Plate Carrier
- Krypsys Concealable Plate Carrier
- Team Wendy Exfil Ballistic Helmet
- Avon C50 Gas Mask
- Operator BLS / IFAK Kit
- Tactical Operator Response Kit (T.O.R.K.)
- RMA Steel Gong Targets
- Law Enforcement Quotes Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1000 verified 5-star customer reviews demonstrating product satisfaction and market validation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use RMA Armament
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
RMA Armament technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
RMA Armament partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EvikecoreEvike is a national retailer partnership providing RMA Armament products through Evike's established tactical gear e-commerce platform and retail presence, expanding accessibility to customers nationwide.
- BrownellscoreBrownells serves as a national retailer partner distributing RMA Armament body armor and tactical gear products to customers through their established firearms and tactical equipment sales platform.
- ScheelscoreScheels national retailer partnership enables RMA Armament products to reach customers through Scheels' retail locations and e-commerce platform, providing additional distribution channels for ballistic protection products.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RMA Armament competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Armor Express: Armor Express is a US manufacturer of ballistic and stab-resistant body armor serving military, federal LE, and corrections markets. Comparable to RMA in core plate and soft armor offerings but with a stronger institutional/government contract footprint.
- Point Blank Enterprises: Point Blank is a major US manufacturer of ballistic body armor and protective solutions for military, federal LE, and international defense customers. It is a direct competitor to RMA in NIJ-certified hard and soft armor, with substantially larger production capacity and IDIQ contract positions.
- Avon Protection: Avon Protection manufactures CBRN respirators, gas masks, and tactical protective equipment for military and first responders. Comparable to RMA through RMA's resale of Avon C50 gas masks and CBRN filters, representing an overlapping protective equipment category.
- Safariland (Vest / Safariland Group): Safariland is one of the largest US body armor and tactical equipment manufacturers, serving LE, military, and federal agencies. It is comparable to RMA as a direct competitor in hard and soft armor plates, plate carriers, and tactical gear, but at significantly greater scale with deeper institutional sales coverage.
Direct peers
- Velocity Systems: Velocity Systems makes plate carriers, armor panels, and tactical gear for military, LE, and civilian markets. Comparable to RMA in plate carrier and soft/hard armor offerings, with overlap in modular carrier designs and bundle SKUs.
- Chase Tactical: Chase Tactical manufactures and distributes NIJ-certified body armor plates, plate carriers, and tactical gear to LE, military, and civilian markets. Direct competitor to RMA with overlapping product lines in Level III/IV ceramic plates and tactical apparel.
- Spartan Armor Systems: Spartan Armor manufactures NIJ-certified body armor plates, plate carriers, and tactical equipment, with a strong DTC and LE/military distribution footprint. Direct competitor to RMA in ceramic Level III/IV plates and bundled armor kits at similar price points.
- Shellback Tactical: Shellback Tactical designs and manufactures plate carriers, tactical gear, and body armor solutions for LE, military, and civilians. Already a product partner to RMA (shoulder pads, plate carriers) and a direct competitor in plate carrier and bundled armor kit SKUs.
- Hoplite Armor: Hoplite is a direct-to-consumer body armor manufacturer selling NIJ-certified ceramic plates, plate carriers, and tactical gear to civilians, LE, and military. Highly comparable to RMA in GTM model, product mix, and target buyer — both compete aggressively on price and American-made positioning.
- Highcom Security Solutions: Highcom is a US manufacturer of NIJ-certified ballistic body armor plates and vests, competing in the same Level III/III+/IV hard plate and soft armor categories as RMA. Comparable mid-sized domestic manufacturer with overlapping LE, military, and federal customer bases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RMA Armament social profiles
Digital presenceRMA Armament financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RMA Armament leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
RMA Armament funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RMA Armament M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RMA Armament
What does RMA Armament do?
RMA Armament (operating as RMA Defense) designs, manufactures, and sells NIJ-certified ballistic body armor plates, concealable soft body armor, plate carriers, ballistic helmets, and tactical gear accessories. The product line spans Level IIIA, Level III, Special Rifle Threat (SRT), and Level IV protection using ceramic and UHMWPE composite materials, sold direct-to-consumer via rmadefense.com and through national retailers, with a dedicated Law Enforcement Quotes Program for agency buyers.
Is RMA Armament a public or private company?
RMA Armament is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RMA Armament founded?
RMA Armament was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RMA Armament based?
RMA Armament is headquartered in Centerville, United States, in the North America region.
How does RMA Armament make money?
One revenue line is on record: body Armor and Plate Sales.
Who are RMA Armament's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Armor Express, Point Blank Enterprises, Avon Protection and Safariland (Vest / Safariland Group). Direct peers are Velocity Systems, Chase Tactical, Spartan Armor Systems, Shellback Tactical, Hoplite Armor and Highcom Security Solutions.
Does RMA Armament have an API?
No public API is recorded for RMA Armament.
What industry is RMA Armament in?
RMA Armament's product category is Ballistic Body Armor. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAFAH, Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories). Its NAICS code is 332994 and its SIC code is 3480.