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The present paper deals with the CAE-based study of impact of jacketed projectiles on single- and multi-layered metal armour plates using LS-DYNA. The validation of finite element modelling procedure is mainly based on the mesh convergence study using both shell and solid elements for representing single-layered mild steel target plates. It is shown that the proper choice of mesh density and the strain rate-dependent material properties are essential for an accurate prediction of projectile residual velocity. The modelling requirements are initially arrived at by correlating against test residual velocities for single-layered mild steel plates of different depths at impact velocities in the range of approximately 800-870 m/s. The efficacy of correlation is adjudged in terms of a ‘correlation index’, defined in the paper, for which values close to unity are desirable. The experience gained for single-layered plates is next used in simulating projectile impacts on multi-layered mild steel target plates and once again a high degree of correlation with experimental residual velocities is observed. The study is repeated for single- and multi-layered aluminium target plates with a similar level of success in test residual velocity prediction. To the authors’ best knowledge, the present comprehensive study shows in particular for the first time that, with a proper modelling approach, LS-DYNA can be used with a great degree of confidence in designing perforation-resistant single and multi-layered metallic armour plates.