The Armored Vehicle in Executive Protection
There are always questions raised around the use of an armored vehicle in an executive protection operation. Is it really necessary? How much will it cost? What level do we need to ask for?
The purpose of an armored vehicle is to absorb the initial burst of fire and maintain the capability to drive out of the ambush, protect the occupants from the threat, maintain some level of performance and be able to function in hostile environments.
All vehicles, including armored vehicles, have characteristics that define their performance. An armored vehicle is a tradeoff between performance and protection – simply the higher the level of protection, the less the performance. At best, it is difficult to build an armored vehicle that has a high-defeat capability, keeps its performance characteristics intact, and has reasonable longevity.
Bullet-resistant glass means only that it is bullet-resistant, not bulletproof. An armored car must be capable of absorbing the initial burst of fire and have the capability to drive away from the attack. Experience shows that if the car is armored, the adversary will concentrate their fire on the glass in short bursts of rounds at a single location.
The worst possible scenario for any vehicle is to stop in the kill zone, and that includes armored vehicles. If the vehicle is immobilized, the attackers have control over the movement of the target, and that is not a good thing. If the vehicle stops, you lose.
Armor Level
Certified Ballistic and Explosive Resistance. Ballistic standards indicate the type of ammunition the vehicle or material will stop and how many rounds it can withstand. There can be confusion concerning the various ballistic standards, the levels of armor, and what they can and cannot do. Each level indicates the protection provided for the type of weapon, the caliber of round, the distance the round was shot from and the number of rounds fired within a given area.
The problem is that the standards are not the same. For instance, the ballistic capability of Level 2 Armor for one standard may not be the same ballistic capability of Level 2 in another standard. Be sure to ask the provider:
What caliber rounds does the armor stop?
From what distance will they stop the round?
How many rounds will it stop?
In what area of the vehicle will they stop them?
We strongly suggest that before considering the purchase of an armored vehicle, educate yourself on ballistic standards & armor defeat levels.