Taipei: Taiwan’s military is making significant strides in developing bulletproof plates crafted from boron carbide, a lightweight ceramic material praised for its protective qualities. This initiative was revealed in an export control list published by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) last week.

According to Focus Taiwan, the list, which became publicly accessible on July 31, details the development of these plates, which are engineered to withstand 7.62 mm armor-piercing rounds. Boron carbide is recognized for its exceptional hardness, combined with its lightweight and wear-resistant properties, making it highly suitable for body armor applications.

The ministry has allocated an initial budget of NT$1.39 million (US$46,728) to acquire 30 units of the domestically developed plates once they become available. Should these samples fulfill the military’s requirements, the MND has plans to procure 48,000 sets between 2028 and 2029, with an estimated total cost of NT$840 million.

The export control military use list identifies items that require export authorization due to their potential for national defense applications. Since 2021, the MND has published this list annually, in compliance with the Defense Industry Development Act.

Earlier this year, Taiwan initiated mass production of domestically manufactured bulletproof plates that adhere to the U.S. military’s Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) standard. These plates are specifically designed to provide torso protection against rifle threats and are capable of withstanding the standard 5.8 mm rounds utilized by China’s People’s Liberation Army.