This paper focuses on the mechanical behaviour of aluminium alloy 2024-T351 under impact loading. This study has been carried out combining experimental and numerical techniques. Firstly, experimental impact tests were conducted on plates of 4mm of thickness covering impact velocities from 50m/s to 200m/s and varying the stress state through the projectile nose shape: conical, hemispherical and blunt. The mechanisms behind the perforation process were studied depending on the projectile configuration used by analyzing the associated failure modes and post-mortem deflection. Secondly, a numerical study of the mechanical behaviour of aluminium alloy 2024-T351 under impact loading was conducted. To this end, a three-dimensional model was developed in the finite element solver ABAQUS/Explicit. This model combines Lagrangian elements with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) elements. A good correlation was obtained between numerical and experimental results in terms of residual and ballistic limit velocities.