When it comes to close quarters battle (CQB), every second counts, and every piece of gear must earn its place. Tactical shields are a critical tool for law enforcement and military teams conducting high-risk room clearing operations. These shields don’t just provide ballistic protection. They shape the way teams move, communicate, and dominate confined spaces.
Why Shields Matter in CQB
In tight environments like hallways, small rooms, stairwells, and urban interiors, traditional cover is often nonexistent. Tactical shields offer mobile cover that allows the entry team to advance under protection, create angles, and safely confront threats. They’re often deployed as part of a stack: the shield lead provides mobile cover while other team members secure sectors and maintain CQB flow through the room.
The right shield allows a team to:
- Push through thresholds with confidence
- Protect the shield operator and team behind them
- Maintain visibility through viewports or other cut-outs
- Control and direct movement with ergonomic handling
- Quickly respond to threats without compromising maneuverability
At RTS Tactical, our shield lineup is purpose-built for these scenarios. Our shields complement plate carriers and rifle-rated plates, giving the stack mobile cover while worn armor stays with the operator. In CQB training, teams learn how shield positioning, communication, and spacing work together under stress.
Below, we explain how each shield fits into CQB tactics.
RTS Tactical Level III+ Rifle Special Threats Mini Shield
Best for: Vehicle Teams, SROs, K9 Handlers, Campus and Hospital Security, Executive Protection Teams, Individual Patrol Officers, CQB/Tactical Entry Teams, and Undercover Units
The RTS Tactical Level III+ Rifle Special Threats Mini Shield brings rifle-rated protection in an ultra-compact form, allowing solo officers or first responders to maneuver quickly in confined areas with a CQB shield setup.
Its lightweight profile makes it ideal for fast-moving entries or one-person engagements where agility is essential, or two-man teams where coordinated movement and quick shield transitions are critical. When you're first on scene, this is the shield that keeps you mobile and protected.
RTS Tactical Centurion Ballistic Shield
Best for: SWAT Teams, Entry Units, and Law Enforcement Professionals
With its curved design and rifle protection, the RTS Tactical Centurion Ballistic Shield is purpose-built for leading a team through high-threat environments such as forced entries, active shooter situations, and hostage rescues. Its single-curve profile enhances structural integrity while providing an ergonomic hold for rapid deployment in high-stakes situations.
With a next-generation boltless viewport system and hardened RF1-rated ballistic bolts, the Centurion is built for fast-moving entries. The 20” x 36” compact profile and ~20 lb weight support agile movement through doorways and tight spaces.
RTS Tactical Lead Entry Ballistic Shield
Best for: Entry Units, Tactical Operators, and Law Enforcement Professionals
The RTS Tactical Lead Entry Ballistic Shield is a lightweight shield that offers effortless handling, allowing operators to maintain peak agility during forced entries, high-risk warrants, and critical response scenarios. The RF1-rated bolts ensure full ballistic integrity at all impact angles, delivering next-level performance where it matters most.
This shield redefines ballistic protection with its patent-pending boltless viewport, eliminating weak points in the glass while maximizing durability under extreme conditions.
RTS Tactical LEGION Ballistic Shield
Best for: SWAT Teams, Tactical Response Units, Active Shooter Response Teams, Breach and Clear Teams, High-Risk Warrant Service Units, and Law Enforcement Professionals
The RTS Tactical LEGION Ballistic Shield features RTS Tactical’s unique contours and a large ballistic viewport for enhanced visibility and protection. Utilizing our patent-pending boltless viewport system and hardened, ballistic-rated fasteners, the LEGION reduces common weak points while maintaining structural integrity under impact.
Our innovative system removes all bolts and adhesives around the viewport, eliminating gaps and vulnerabilities found in traditional designs. Tested to be three times stronger than conventional adhesives, it ensures a zero-gap barrier for superior clarity, durability, and protection. Heavy-duty rubber bumpers on the corners absorb shocks and protect against wear, ensuring the shield remains reliable in real-world operations.
Proudly manufactured in the USA, the LEGION Ballistic Shield is built to the highest quality standards to meet the demanding needs of modern tactical teams.
RTS Tactical Gladiatore Ballistic Shield
Best for: Entry Teams, Solo/Group Operators, Tactical Units, SWAT Teams, School Resource Officers (SROs), Executive Protection Details, Patrol Officers, Active Shooter Response Teams, and High-Risk Warrant Units
The RTS Tactical Gladiatore Ballistic Shield is designed to withstand multiple rifle threats from various angles. Its strategically placed cutouts help operators stabilize their firearms and support consistent CQB weapon holds, ensuring precision in the most demanding situations. With ballistic-rated bolts for enhanced structural integrity and a compact 18” x 24” design, this shield offers superior protection without sacrificing speed or versatility.
Proudly made in-house in the USA, the Gladiatore is mission-ready for law enforcement, military, and security professionals who need unmatched defense in the field.
RTS Tactical Active Shooter SWAT Ballistic Shield
Best for: SWAT Teams, Active Shooter Response Units, School Resource Officers (SROs), Hostage Rescue Teams, and Crowd Control Units
The RTS Tactical Active Shooter SWAT Ballistic Shield is ergonomically designed and compatible with long guns and an LED light option. This shield is contoured for extra protection and lightweight for easy and rapid motion. The shooting ports are easily accessible in horizontal or vertical positions and offer increased head coverage against other shields.
The SWAT ballistic shield comes designed with a viewport and an Enhanced Weapon Mount Platform on each side of the shield so first responders can safely present their weapon and effectively counter single or multiple threats.
Enhance CQB Training With RTS Tactical
Close quarters combat demands clarity, confidence, and capability, in addition to disciplined CQB tactics. Shields give teams the edge they need when the environment works against them. At RTS Tactical, we’re proud to offer ballistic shields designed with real-world feedback from law enforcement officers, tactical instructors, and military professionals.
Whether you’re operating solo, part of a stack, or tasked with protecting your campus/community, there’s an RTS Tactical shield that fits your mission.
Looking to outfit your team with CQB-ready protection?
Schedule a department consultation or request a quote and get your team the best shield they need to lead on the frontlines. If you’re building a complete response setup, ask about pairing shields with carrier systems and IFAKs for deployment-ready loadouts.
FAQs
What does CQB mean?
CQB stands for close quarters battle. It is often used interchangeably with close quarters combat. The CQB meaning in a law enforcement context is work in tight interior spaces where distance is short, angles change fast, and decisions happen quickly. Because environments and SOPs vary, CQB should be approached as a training-driven discipline rather than a single “one size fits all” method.
How do ballistic shields fit into CQB training?
In CQB training, shields are integrated into team movement and communication so operators learn how to manage visibility, spacing, and coverage under stress. A shield isn’t treated as a standalone solution. It’s part of how a team works together during interior operations, with roles and responsibilities defined by unit policy and instructor standards.
It’s important to note that shield deployment and CQB techniques should always follow agency policy and certified training protocols.
Do ballistic shields replace a body armor vest or plate carrier?
No. A ballistic shield provides mobile cover, while worn protection stays with the operator. A body armor vest or a plate carrier is designed to be worn continuously and to protect the torso as the user moves, turns, and works hands-on tasks. Shields complement that protection by adding a barrier that can be positioned between the team and a threat as conditions change.
When would a concealable bulletproof vest be used instead of a plate carrier?
A concealable bulletproof vest is often selected for daily wear, patrol duties, or assignments where low profile and comfort matter more than carrying rifle plates and additional gear. A plate carrier is more common in higher-threat deployments where teams want modular load carriage and rifle-rated plate capability. Teams choose based on mission needs and agency policy, not trend or preference alone.