Combat vehicles are frequently maneuvered in battlefields when the lives of combatants are being threatened. These vehicles are important elements that influence the consequences of a battle. Their armor must be lightweight and provide excellent protection to ensure successful operations. Ceramic composite armor has recently been developed by many countries to fulfill these requirements. We reviewed previous research to determine an effective armor design, and then fabricated a composite armor structure using $Al_2O_3$ and glass fiber-reinforced polymer. Specimens were manufactured under controlled conditions using different backing plate thicknesses and bonding methods for the ceramic layer and the backing plate. The penetration of an armor-piercing bullet was evaluated from ballistic protection tests. The bonding method between the ceramic layer and the fiber-reinforced polymer influenced the ballistic protection performance. A bonding layer using rubber provided the best protection.