NATO Standards Course in Armour Validation
Online 300 h course in NATO standards for armour validation. 6 modules covering STANAG 4569 (vehicle protection levels), AEP-55 (protection assessment procedures) and LS-DYNA. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
NATO Standards Course in Armour Validation — studying from Canada
Canada's defence sector is centred on procurement and sustainment through the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada. Industrial activity spans land vehicles, naval systems, avionics and electronics, with firms in Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Companies such as General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Lockheed Martin Canada are notable employers, alongside a broad base of small and medium suppliers. Engineers work on systems integration, vehicle protection, logistics and sustainment, operating within strict security and export control frameworks.
Fees for Canada: C$1,240 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies or processes govern defence engineering recognition?
Defence engineering in Canada often involves government procurement and security clearances, and engineers typically hold provincial Professional Engineer licences where a title is required. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body, so they do not confer licensing or clearance. Recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so verify this first.
Would Canadian defence or land systems employers accept this training?
Canadian defence employers and contractors generally rely on security clearance, licensing and demonstrated experience. A private qualification may support your application, but it is unlikely to replace those requirements, and its acceptance is up to each employer. A SEIUM final project can help show applied skill, so discuss expectations with prospective employers early.
Can I study remotely while working, and what are the costs and language demands?
Yes, the programmes are fully online, so you can study from Canada or elsewhere without a student visa, and fit sessions around work. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Teaching is in English, supported by an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be available.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the concepts of ballistic protection and the acceptance criteria.
Interpret the protection levels defined in STANAG 4569 and AEP-55.
Compare NATO standards with other civil reference standards in protection.
Plan a test campaign with appropriate sampling and statistical criteria.
Apply numerical simulation as support for experimental validation.
Document validation results with traceability and uncertainty.
Prepare a validation plan for an armour solution.
Who it's for
- Ballistic protection engineer looking to specialise in NATO Standards in Armour Validation.
- Testing and certification engineer looking to specialise in NATO Standards in Armour Validation.
- Impact simulation analyst looking to specialise in NATO Standards in Armour Validation.
- Ballistic test laboratory technician looking to specialise in NATO Standards in Armour Validation.
- Protection materials engineer looking to specialise in NATO Standards in Armour Validation.
- Quality manager in armour programmes looking to specialise in NATO Standards in Armour Validation.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- STANAG 4569 (vehicle protection levels)
- AEP-55 (protection assessment procedures)
- MIL-STD-662F (V50 ballistic testing of armour)
- NIJ Standard 0101.06 (personal armour)
- EN 1063 (bullet-resistant safety glazing)
- EN 1522 (bullet-resistant windows and doors)
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing laboratories)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Kinetic and fragmentation threats1.2Impact energy and momentum1.3Failure mechanisms of metal plates1.4Behaviour of ceramics under impact1.5Passive versus active protection1.6Areal density and protection efficiency1.7Ballistic limit V50 and V01.8Statistics of penetration tests1.9Destructive and non-destructive testing1.10Workshop: interpreting a V50 curve
2.1Origin and evolution of STANAG 45692.2Kinetic protection levels 1 to 62.3Protection against artillery and fragments2.4Protection against mines and devices2.5AEP-55 Volume 1: kinetic tests2.6AEP-55 Volume 2: artillery tests2.7AEP-55 Volume 3: mine tests2.8Acceptance and rejection criteria2.9Relationship with national standards2.10Case study: reading a qualification report
3.1STANAG 2920 and fragment testing3.2AEP-2920 and fragment simulators3.3NIJ 0101.06 and NIJ 0108.013.4European standard EN 1063 for glazing3.5EN 1522 and 1523 for building elements3.6VPAM and German protection standards3.7MIL-STD-662F: determination of V503.8Comparison between standard families3.9Harmonisation and mutual recognition3.10Practice: equivalence table between standards
4.1Test plan and shot matrix4.2Accredited test facilities4.3ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation of laboratories4.4Instrumentation: chronographs and high-speed cameras4.5Witness plates and deformation measurement4.6Traceability of samples and batches4.7Safety in firing galleries4.8Data logging and quality control4.9Measurement uncertainty in ballistics4.10Laboratory: designing a documentary test plan
5.1Role of simulation in certification5.2Johnson-Cook constitutive models5.3Johnson-Holmquist ceramic models5.4Explicit codes: LS-DYNA and Autodyn5.5Model verification and validation (ASME V&V 10)5.6Correlation between simulation and testing5.7Occupant injuries and tolerance criteria5.8Anthropomorphic dummies in mine tests5.9Ethical and legal limits of testing5.10Case study: validating a model with published data
6.1Definition of the system and reference threat6.2Selection of the target STANAG level6.3Review of applicable standards6.4Test and simulation plan6.5Analysis of reference results6.6Requirements compliance matrix6.7Qualification dossier6.8Lessons learned and risks6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LS-DYNA, ANSYS Autodyn, Abaqus/Explicit, MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures from accredited ballistic laboratories, statistical analysis of V50 results, and correlation between numerical simulation and testing. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the concepts of ballistic protection and the acceptance criteria.
Interpret the protection levels defined in STANAG 4569 and AEP-55.
Compare NATO standards with other civil reference standards in protection.
Plan a test campaign with appropriate sampling and statistical criteria.
Apply numerical simulation as support for experimental validation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses LS-DYNA, ANSYS Autodyn, Abaqus/Explicit and MATLAB. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official title from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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