Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMITo improve the protective effectiveness of armors it is crucial to understand the failure mechanisms of protective materials. In the video, the failure behavior of a ceramic front plate under impact of a small-caliber projectile is recorded. The development of the penetration crater, deformation and material ejecta as well as the fragmentation process are captured in high temporal resolution. Such processes are further analyzed at Fraunhofer EMI in order to gain a deeper understanding of how to improve the protective effectiveness of ceramic protective materials.