The present technology provides armor articles for use in body armor, vehicle armor, and aircraft armor, including helicopters. The armor articles include a ceramic plate having a front surface and a rear surface; a polymer backer affixed to the rear surface of the ceramic plate, wherein the polymer backer comprises a laminate of at least two layers of material, each layer comprising a ballistic fabric; and self-repair conduits on the front surface of the ceramic plate and covered by a layer of material, wherein the self-repair conduits contain a self-repair composition. The present armor articles are light weight yet can still sustain multiple hits by armor piercing bullets. Armor articles may also be produced without the ceramic plate.