Can you use a ballistic shield without a viewport?

Majorly used to protect soldiers and military officials from ballistic threats, ballistic shields are designed for the sole purpose of resisting and deflecting bullets and other forms of ballistic projectiles. They can also be used as a riot shield in a mob situation. This would protect the carrier of the shield from being hit by non-lethal threats and thrown objects.

Generally, most ballistic shields are often built out of tough ballistic rated materials such as UHMWPE, Kevlar, or other pre-preg aramid fibers. Also, one common feature of ballistic shields is that they often have clear armored viewing ports. Some other models of ballistic shields also come with ambidextrous handles and spotlights for use in the dark, and either handheld or mounted on wheel-based frames.

Viewports are the transparent windows in a ballistic shield that allows the user to see. Like the other part of the ballistic shield, the viewport needs to be extra durable and bullet resistant. Due to this reason, viewports are made of solid materials like polycarbonate. Some ballistic shields do not have a viewport. In some cases, the viewport can be the heaviest part of the shield; its durability and need to be bullet resistance add to the view port’s weight. It is important to note that any scratches or damage to the viewport will limit or cause blurred vision.

So, it is possible to use a ballistic shield without a viewport. However, it is not totally recommended as it reduces the carrier’s ability to view incoming danger and preempt ballistic threats before they hit. Without proper vision, there is no chance for the carrier to know the kind of threat coming, unless he peeps outside the protection found behind the ballistic shield. This can be extremely dangerous, especially in a gun fight.

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