Entangled　metallic　wire　material–silicone　rubber　(EMWM–SR)　composites　with　a　three-dimensional　interpenetrating　network　structure　were　manufactured　through　the　vacuum　infiltration　method　with　the　matrix　of　entangled　metallic　wire　material　(EMWM)　and　reinforcing　element　of　silicone　rubber　(SR).　Quasistatic　compression　tests　and　low-velocity　impact　tests　of　the　proposed　composites　were　performed,　and　the　deformation　model　and　damage　characteristics　of　the　tested　EMWM–SR　composites　were　investigated　by　performing　computerized　tomography　scans　and　indentation　depths.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　stiffness　and　energy　consumption　of　the　EMWM–SR　composites　are　more　than　twice　the　sum　of　those　of　the　individual　EMWM　and　SR　in　the　displacement　range　of　1.5–4.0　mm.　With　the　increase　of　loading　displacement,　the　stiffness　of　EMWM–SR　composites　increases　steadily　and　the　energy　consumption　increases　sharply.　Compared　with　EMWM　and　SR,　the　maximum　displacement　and　peak　force　of　the　composite　materials　are　decreasing　significantly　in　the　low-velocity　impact　tests.　With　increasing　density,　the　impact　resistance　of　the　composites　increases,　while　the　energy　absorption　decreases.　In　other　words,　EMWM–SR　2.6　has　better　impact　resistance　but　lower　energy　absorption　capacity.　The　maximum　displacement　and　the　peak　force　increase　synchronously　with　the　increase　in　impact　velocity.　Interestingly,　the　composites　maintain　a　high　energy　absorption　capacity　at　different　impact　speeds.　Furthermore,　the　energy　absorption　characteristics　of　the　EMWM–SR　composites　under　low-velocity　impact　are　described　in　terms　of　the　deformation　mechanism　of　the　wires.　©　2023　The　Authors