The work aims to analyze the research situation of anti-penetration performance of armor protective materials in order to provide reference for structural design of composite armor. The situation of research on anti-penetration performance of armor protective material was discussed and its application was analyzed. The situation of research on the anti-penetration and the application of metal materials (armor steel, aluminum alloy and titanium alloy), ceramic composite target plate and the fiber reinforced composite materials (glass fiber, kevlar fiber, UHMWPE fiber) were discussed and introduced. With the increasingly updated battlefield environment and rapid development of weapons and equipment, it is difficult for a single armor protective material to adapt to the changing battlefield environment. Armor protective materials will develop in direction of toughening, lightweight, intelligence and multifunction.