Abstract:The weight of weapons is a very important factor in the quick response capability in battlefield, it has paid much attention and strict requirements are posed in modern high technology warfare. The developed countries have invested huge amount of money in studies on lightweight structural materials as well as the advanced manufacturing technology to reduce the weight of weapons and equipment, improve their mobility, increase the number of bombs carrying and the amount of the field aid system and even improve the survival and combat capability of soldiers and weapons in battlefield. Magnesium alloy is an ideal material to be used in reducing the weight of weapons. In accordance with the ballistic performance of AZ31B magnesium alloy, three types of projectile penetration target plate models are established by numerical simulation. The general process of magnesium alloy being perforated is studied. The ballistic performance of magnesium alloy is analyzed comparing with aluminum alloy and steel made target plates under the same area density. It is shown that the ballistic performance is closely connected with the penetrator parameter and the target thickness.