How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

© A lpine A rmoring Inc

The Pit-Bull VX starts life as a Ford F-550. A

heavy-duty, four-wheel-drive pick-up truck, it’s a

workhorse of the US construction industry. The

6.7-litre V6 engine and transmission of the F-550

and chassis remain in the Pit-Bull VX. However,

everything else is armoured or purpose built.

The fuel tank, battery and exhaust pipe are fi tted

with steel armour plating and the suspension is

also strengthened. Tubeless run-fl at tyres are

installed, which function at speeds of up to 48

kilometres (30 miles) per hour when punctured.

In the event of the tyres being shredded the

Pit-Bull VX can still operate on its military-grade

wheel rims. Ballistic steel plate is used to provide a

mine and grenade-resistant fl oor, while the main

body is made up of overlapping armour plating.

This is built and tested to US National Institute of

Justice (NIJ) standards. Despite the armour, the

overall weight of the Pit-Bull is 1,000 kilograms

(2,200 pounds) less than the F-550 maximum

operating limit – plus it still manages to maintain

the same speed and performance.

Making an armoured Pit-Bull

A bulletproof windscreen and windows mean the

Pit-Bull VX crew have excellent visibility yet are

still protected if they come under fi re. Modern

bulletproof, or ballistic, glass is constructed in

the same way as laminated windscreens. Thin

layers of polycarbonate – a transparent plastic

• are glued between sheets of glass. The outer
  layer of glass is often softer so it will fl ex with
  the impact of a shot rather than shatter.
  A bullet would pierce the outer sheet of glass,
  but the polycarbonate absorbs the bullet’s
  energy, stopping it from penetrating the inner
  layer of glass. Depending on the protection levels
  offered, a bulletproof pane of glass may be
  comprised of numerous layers of glass and
  polycarbonate. The Pit-Bull’s windows offer
  protection right up to 7.62 x 51-millimetre (0.3 x
  2.0-inch)-calibre ammunition – eg an AK-47.

Bulletproof glass

Fast exit

The rear door is over a

metre wide to allow heavily

equipped SWAT troopers

fast entry and exit.

Tough tyres

Tubeless Michelin tyres

can run when punctured,

while the military-grade

wheel rims can even

support the vehicle if tyres

are completely shredded.

No gaps

Armour overlaps on all fi ve

doors so there’s no entry

point for bullets.

Gun ports

Door and window-mounted

gun ports allow the SWAT

team to use their weapons

from inside for extra safety.

Driving

The original F-550 driving

position and controls have

been retained to make driver

training straightforward.

Ballistic glass

All windows in the Pit-Bull

are made with shatter-

proof, multi-layered glass

tested by the US NIJ.

DID YOU KNOW? WWI was the first conflict in which armoured cars were deployed – mainly in desert environments