With the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine, NATO members remain aware of the potential threat of increasing conflict. This has especially driven Poland, a country only one border away from the war zone, to boost its military capabilities as a precautionary measure, reflecting the increased urgency for national security. Defense spending among NATO members has been steadily rising across the board. In 2023, 11 nations met NATO’s defense spending guideline (at least 2% of GDP), an increase from seven in 2022. Poland emerged as the alliance’s top spender in 2023, allocating 3.90% of its GDP to defense—surpassing the United States (3.49%) and Greece (3.01%). This year, Poland has maintained its position as the largest defense spender, contributing 4.12% of its GDP.
The growing focus on defense isn’t limited to governments alone. An interview with Krzysztof Urban, the CTO of BC Arms—a Polish-owned body armor manufacturer—revealed that their ballistic vests are gaining increased interest from civilians as well.
Should civilians prepare for the worst?
According to Urban, that’s a matter of reason rather than uncontrollable panic. As countries like Poland increase their military spending to prepare for potential conflicts, civilians are also becoming more aware of the need to protect themselves. The rising demand for body armor isn’t just about fear, but a practical response to real threats. This shared focus on security—from governments to individuals—shows a collective effort to be ready for whatever challenges may come.
“People are becoming more interested, and we are fighting hard to raise awareness. We take the time to talk with every soldier, every civilian, even if they aren’t interested in making a purchase. Even if someone calls us just to ask what this is all about, we are more than happy to educate them.”
Since its founding in 2016, BC Arms has steadily evolved to stay competitive while maintaining its core mission: delivering the highest level of security to its customers. Drawing from his firsthand experience in the war-torn city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Chief Technical Officer Krzysztof Urban ensures that the company’s products meet the real-world needs of those seeking protection. His personal insights have helped shape BC Arms’ commitment to offering reliable, top-quality body armor in an ever-changing market. Apart from pioneering civilian-friendly ballistic plates, BC Arms is also the first company in Poland to manufacture ballistic vests specifically for women and the only one producing ceramic plates.
Purchasing ballistic vests as a civilian may be confusing. As described in a previous article by BodyArmorNews.com about body armor legislation in the United States, the law varies and is not always clear. In Poland, the rules surrounding the purchase of ballistic vests are straightforward in practice but more complex on paper. According to regulations, it’s up to the manufacturer to determine whether a product is intended for civilian use. This lack of clear guidelines, combined with placing responsibility on producers, often discourages sellers from making their vests legally available to civilians outside of special forces. This cannot be said about the BC Arms.
”Everything we produce, everything here is made using civilian technologies, and it is legal for civilians to purchase. We are the first company in Poland to achieve this,” says Urban while presenting ballistic plates during an interview for BodyArmorNews.com. These products, including a recently award-winning WARRIOR collection, are available for everyone.
“Anyone who thinks they might find themselves in a dangerous situation should at least know what’s worth buying. But instead of focusing on brands, it’s more important to understand the technologies. Some technologies are better, some are worse, and some are the worst, like certain Chinese technologies, which are completely substandard. There should be at least some awareness. For example, if we plan to evacuate our family further west during a war, which is frankly a logical solution, we would want to equip them with shrapnel protection for their escape. It’s clear that artillery fires based on maps, targeting intersections to create chaos among civilians and slow down military movements, so there won’t be any exceptions,” explains Urban.
Which ballistic vest is good for a civilian?
Understanding the different levels of protection offered by various technologies is crucial, especially when lives are at stake. While many might assume any body armor would suffice, the reality is that only certain standards can provide the necessary defense against the type of ammunition used in modern warfare. In situations where families might need to evacuate, having the right equipment can make a life-saving difference, particularly in chaotic environments where artillery and shrapnel pose constant threats.
“What I can advise based on my practical experience—without referring to our company but rather to standards—is that we should have at least the Polish K4 standard on the chest. Ideally, we should aim for the K5AB standard: K5AB on the chest and K4 on the back. This is how we promote it—face the enemy, don’t retreat—so you also save nearly a kilogram of weight. Two extra magazines will always come in handy.”
As Urban claims, such a solution should stop the vast majority of Russian ammunition. However, as he admits, there is a gap that the company still tries to fill up.
Tungsten carbide rounds, known for their exceptional hardness and ability to pierce through traditional armor, present a significant challenge to body armor manufacturers. These advanced rounds require specialized countermeasures. According to Urban, BC Arms is actively working on solutions, but obtaining tungsten carbide rounds for testing has been difficult. Since these rounds are primarily used by Russian forces in Ukraine, they are hard to access from a war zone. Despite the challenges, Urban is confident they will secure the rounds and continue developing armor that provides the highest level of protection.
Solutions straight from an action movie
Working on solutions that protect not just the military or police, BC Arms took a step forward and created a product straight from an action movie. As Urban admits himself, this idea for a ballistic vest in a formal style started as a joke.
“We made a John Wick-style vest, and the interest was so high that we proposed a collaboration with a well-known designer. As a result, we’re now developing an entire line of suit vests for people who want to increase their safety without drawing attention to themselves—politicians, celebrities, and others.”
BC Arms anticipates the collection’s premiere at the end of this year, around December 2024. As Urban notices, these ballistic solutions might turn out to be highly relevant.
”Recently, as far as I remember, there was an attack on a rapper in the United States by some obsessed fan, and he was wearing a suit. If that suit had been from us, nothing would have happened to him for sure. As it stands, something did happen. I’m not sure if he’s still alive, but these things do occur, and we are seeing a certain rise in extreme situations.”
While the idea to create vests straight from a John Wick movie started in a joking manner it is hard to undermine the value of such solutions. After events in 2022, when former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was killed after being shot twice in the chest during a public speech, the idea of a vest that does not catch an eye seems like an efficient way to prevent threats without unnecessarily causing unrest among the public. As other politicians are prone to experience attacks as well, ballistic vests for civilians might become an everyday choice as just in 2024, Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia survived being shot five times during an assassination attempt and Donald Trump, former president and candidate in the 2024 election, avoided being shot in a head.
As global tensions rise and attacks on public figures become more frequent, the development of discreet ballistic vests like those from BC Arms may soon become a vital part of civilian protection strategies.
