A finite element model of projectiles normally impacting aramid fiber laminates was established by using Abaqus/Explicit software, and the reliability of the model was verified by comparing the results with those in  existing literatures, then, the critical velocity of projectiles, the ballistic performance and the failure mechanism of the aramid fiber laminates were analyzed with three different shapes of projectiles normally impacting the aramid fiber laminates. The results show that the critical velocity of conical projectile is the smallest, the velocity of cylindrical projectile is the largest, and, the critical velocity of spherical projectile is something in between; with the same initial velocity, the conical projectile does the largest execution, the spherical projectile does the second, and the cylindrical projectile does the smallest; the failure mechanism of aramid fiber laminates is related to the shape and impact velocity of projectiles. The research results could provide references to the design and optimization of aramid fiber laminates and projectiles.