How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

© Rex Feat ures; Corbis; A lamy; Thin k stock

Autera pegs TAC’s vehicles as some of the best in

the business because they use the lightest

weight ballistic steel on the market and strive

to fi nd a good balance bet ween extreme

armouring and preserving high-end vehicles’

original capabilities.

“The armour is only going to be used once in

the vehicle’s lifetime,” explains Kimball, “but

the vehicle is used daily, so you want it to

perform like a regular vehicle.” To ensure that’s

the case, TAC replaces components of the

braking and suspension systems with meatier

versions, and reprogrammes the vehicle’s

computer to eke out the best performance

under the new weight conditions.

Nevertheless, armoured vehicles handle

differently to their conventional counterparts,

making specialised driver training essential.

Autera schools private sector, government,

militar y and law enforcement personnel in

evasive driv ing, vehicle counter-ambush and

counter-carjacking techniques, and offensive

driving. “An essential part of protecting

someone in a high-risk environment is an

armoured vehicle,” he says.

A nd Autera should know. “We were attacked

by a group that was trying to stop our

motorcade and either kidnap or assassinate the

principal,” he recalls of one incident during his

time as a driver. “They tried to block our path

and they engaged the vehicles with AK-47s. We

were able to evade the blocking vehicle and,

because we were in armoured vehicles, even

though our vehicles took fi re, none of the

rounds penetrated.”

Confi dence and composure are critical in

such high-stake situations. “You can’t inoculate

somebody against the response to stress,”

Autera explains. But training helps drivers to

recognise the effects of extreme adrenaline –

the narrow ing fi eld of v ision, muffl ed hearing,

and loss of motor skills – and overcome these to

take the necessar y actions to move their vehicle

and passengers out of danger. “That confi dence

is essential to sur v ival,” he says, “because an

armoured vehicle simply buys you time.”

With four American presidents

assassinated, and others having

suffered attempts on their lives,

Barack Obama needs to know his ride

is safe. Cadillac One, otherwise known

as The Beast, has armour at least 12.7

centimetres (fi ve inches) thick, and its

reinforced doors weigh as much as

those of a Boeing 757.

While the majority of The Beast’s

security features are classifi ed, we do

know that the seven-seater has its own

oxygen supply, carries a bank of the

president’s blood, and is fi tted with

smoke and teargas cannons. Cadillac

One, along with a portion of the

presidential motorcade, accompanies

President Obama all over the world in a

trio of military transport planes.

Protecting

the President

Cadillac One is piloted by a

specially-trained Secret Service driver

These devices protect a convoy from deadly phone call threats

Electronic countermeasures

3. Jamming device
   This transmits a powerful signal
   on the same frequency as a
   phone call, disrupting
   communication between the
   phone and the bomb.

Support vans

These vehicles transport

key White House staff,

including a military aide

and the presidential doctor.

CAT vehicle

The motorcade includes a counterassault

team (CAT) to deal with potential attacks.

ID car

This vehicle carries agents

who communicate with

counter-surveillance teams

and intelligence specialists.

Codename classifi ed 2

Scans are conducted for

hazardous materials including

chemical, biological, and

radiological threats.

Press vans

White House reporters are shuttled to

presidential engagements.

Roadrunner

A White House

Communications Agency van

keeps the president in secure

contact with the outside world.

Sweepers

Local police bring up

the rear to prevent

unauthorised vehicles

joining the motorcade.

Ambulance

Medical aid

travels with the

motorcade in case

of emergency.

2. Explosives
   Improvised explosive
   devices are used as
   roadside bombs, either in
   plain sight, hidden or buried.


3. Phone call trigger
   A phone call triggers a
   vibration circuit and
   therefore the bomb.

DID YOU KNOW? On average, an armoured vehicle costs $120,000 (approx £78,000), but can cost as much as $3m (approx £2m)