ARMORING A-Z
A Fundamental Primer
Armoring: To figure out how much armor you need, start with a personal security assessment: Are you in danger of carjacking, robbery, kidnapping, a revenge attack, an assassination attempt, or all of the above? Examine your personal circumstances and location. A Midwestern oil executive does not need the same amount of armoring as a jeweler ferrying diamonds around Manhattan.
Ballistics: “The science of the motion of projectiles in flight.” When the projectile in question is a bullet, you need to know one thing: Will my car stop it? First, decide what kind of ammunition might be used against you. (U.S. carjackers, for instance, tend to use low-caliber handguns, while Mexican kidnappers favor assault rifles.) Then buy the right armor. It is not as easy as it sounds. Manufacturers rate a given material's ability to withstand ballistic force using a bewildering number of standards, including their own (see National Institute of Justice chart.) Insist on independent test reports to ensure the materials in your car are up to snuff. If you are in any doubt, hire an outside consultant.
Carjacking: If this is your worst-case scenario, you may only need ballistic glass and door armoring. Order armoring certified to withstand the estimated firepower, and see that the doors and windows open and close properly.
Durability: Most armored cars are heavily modified versions of an existing vehicle- the key word is “heavily.” Even the lightest armoring places enormous stress on a vehicle's standard equipment. Start with a robust vehicle; an armored SUV of full-size sedan is better than an armored Ferrari. Ask what changes (if any) have been made to the engine, chassis, brakes, suspension, and so on. Anticipate shorter service intervals to keep the car in perfect mechanical condition, and establish the availability of any specialist parts. Remember: An armored car will not save your life if it in the shop.
Explosives: Explosive munitions like pipe bombs and hand grenades are increasingly popular in many countries, such as Russia. If you're concerned about this type of threat, buy a car with an armored floor, roof, pillar posts, and window overlaps.
Factory: The armoring business is crowded with mom-and-pop operations. Some employ superior craftsmen using advanced technology. Most do not. Whether you're buying from a small outfit or a multinational corporation, visit the factory before commissioning an armored car. Inspect the workmanship thoroughly. Ask for proof of any claims about the armor's performance.
Glass: Contrary to popular belief, bullets do not bounce off bullet-proof glass. Protection comes from alternating layers of non-tempered glass (to absorb a bullet's energy) and laminated polycarbonate (to absorb energy and prevent a spray of glass shards.) While thicker glass provides a greater protection, it dramatically increases a vehicle's weight. Select the appropriate glass by balancing its capabilities with the negative effects of weight on your car's performance.
Handling: If the armoring process severely compromises the donor vehicle's acceleration, braking, and handling, making the car inherently dangerous to drive, an armored car could be the biggest-as last- mistake of your life. Try before you buy.
Invincibility: It doesn't exist. Not even an Abrams tank can protect you from a clever and determined assailant. In fact, most attacks occur just as the victim is getting into or out of his or her car. Always park your armored car in a secure location. Do not get out until the coast is clear.
J-Turn: Reverse quickly, throw the steering wheel to one side, slide the car's nose 180 degrees, put the car in drive, and take off. Many antiterrorist driving instructors consider the J-Turn the most effective way to escape an ambush in an urban (paved) environment. Most armored limos can't do it. An armored SUV will tip over. For J-Turns, general evasive capabilities, and grace under fire, an armored sedan is your best bet.
Kill Zone: This is the area where your attackers can apply deadly force. An armored vehicle's ability to leave the kill zone before a “negative outcome” is its only justification. Choose your car carefully and get appropriate driver's training. If you sit in the back, choose your driver as if your life depends on it.
Listen: Take your armored car for an extended test-drive. Sit in both the front and back. Listen for squeaks and rattles; they may indicate a fundamental design flaw (such as overstressed components), poor build quality, or both. Have your armoring company rectify any untoward noises before you take delivery.
Money: A properly armored can ain't cheap. A full-on, NIJ Category Three Lincoln BPS (Ballistic Protection Series) will run you approximately $140,000. A lesser-armored International Armoring Corp. Hummer H2 costs $99,000 (including vehicles). Expensive does not necessarily mean better, but as always, you get what you pay for.
No Excuses: If you need an armored car and can afford one, buy it now. If you wait until after an attack, it might be too late.
Original Performance: A good armorer maintains as much of the original vehicle's comfort, safety, reliability, handling, acceleration, and braking as possible. Familiarize yourself with the standard specifications of your preferred car or SUV before test-driving the armored version.
Principal: That's you. An armored car is no substitute for your personal resolution to do whatever it takes to stay alive. When things get serious, take care of number one.
Q-Car: The British term for an ordinary-looking car with hidden performance and anti-threat capabilities. The ideal armored car does not look armored; ride height and window tint are the same as a “normal” version. The best examples blend in with their automotive environment, whether that is Hollywood (Mercedes S-Class), Mexico (Jeep Cherokee), or Brazil (Audi A8).
Reputation: Pick a reputable armoring company. Investigate the background of the company and the people running it. Ask for letters of recommendation and references. Check them. Do not be impressed when a company claims it does business with a government agency. Almost all armoring companies can make this claim.
Silence: Never tell anyone that your car is armored.
Technology: When it comes to body armor, steel is still the simplest and cheapest material available. But it is also the heaviest and least discreet. For protection from handguns, go for armored cars built with light synthetic fiber laminates (such as Spectra Shield, Dyneema) and Aramid fibers (like Twaron, Kevlar). For defense against high-velocity rifle rounds, specify specialty steel, ceramics and/ or ceramic composites. Make sure your armoring company has the necessary skills to work with these high-tech materials.
Unknown: Your assailant will always have the advantage of surprise. Preparation is the key. Buy the right armored car for your threat level and keep it in top condition. Practice evasive maneuvers. Stay alert.
Velocity: It is not just the speed of the bullets headed your way that challenges your survival skills; it is also the pace of events. An armored car or SUV simply buys you time to avoid, escape, or (worst case) confront your attackers.
Weapon: Although the armored car's raison d'être is escape and avoidance, many clients order their vehicles with a secret weapons compartment. If you exercise this option, get the appropriate legal permission. Have the armorer make access easy, yet secure. Keep the gun properly loaded, oiled, and operational. Practice removing and firing the weapon.
X Marks the Spot: You're the target. If you feel insecure when driving, you probably are. If you think someone's out to get you, he probably is. Even if you don't buy an armored car, regularly review your “perceived threat level” and make appropriate security arrangements.
Yankee Go Home: It is sad but true: American nationality makes U.S. citizens a target throughout the world. If you are doing business in a foreign hot spot, think about traveling in an armored car with a local bodyguard. If you are living abroad, buy an armored car from a reputable firm that can service and maintain the vehicle locally.
Zero: That is how much fun you'll have if you're dead.
Armoring A-Z