<p>Numerical simulation is a feasible and effective way to investigate the ballistic impact behavior of material. In this research, the numerical simulations of ballistic impact behavior of 2024-T351 Aluminum plates with different thicknesses struck by blunt projectiles are conducted via two numerical approaches, including a data-driven approach using the commercial software ABAQUS/Explicit and MAT224 material model using the commercial software LS-DYNA, are employed to analyze the impact response of 2024-T351 Aluminum plates, respectively. Within the data-driven approach, an enhanced rate-dependent data-driven constitutive model is utilized to describe the mechanical response, where the classical Johnson–Cook fracture criterion is employed to characterize the fracture behavior of the materials during impact simulations. Finally, the relationship between residual velocity and impact velocity, ballistic limit velocities, strain, local displacement, and penetration process are comprehensively investigated to make a detailed comparison between these two numerical approaches. It is found that the data-driven approach provides better accuracy in predicting ballistic limit velocities. Additionally, the data-driven approach differs from the MAT224 material model in the numerical simulation of target plate penetration. This research is to provide instructions for the choice of a numerical approach to the impact simulation of 2024-T351 aluminum.</p>