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Syrian rebels show off their inner A-Team with homemade tank

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Military, Middle East, Design/Style

Going up against an organized military must be quite a challenge, but Syrian rebels have used a little ingenuity to give themselves a fighting chance in the country's civil war. Judging by the fact that the uprising has lasted for more than a year now, the fighters definitely have skills in weapons and military tactics, but some of the rebels have displayed a different sort of skill by busting out their torches and welders to create this homemade tank.

Looking like something you'd see on an old episode of The A-Team, this armored assault vehicle started life as some sort of diesel truck and was converted to its current state using a lot of steel and a big gun. The occupants, engine and tires are all protected by thick metal, and the vehicle uses four cameras (including a gunner camera that can be zoomed in by what appears to be a Playstation controller) and a rear-facing camera to help the driver pilot the massive vehicle.

We don't know how well this vehicle performs when in action, but we're sure Hannibal, Face, Murdock and B.A. Baracus would all be proud of the effort. Scroll down to see the tank in action, courtesy of a video posted by Russia Today on YouTube, including running over a helpless pile of branches.

Syrian rebels show off their inner A-Team with homemade tank originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Army trying to figure out what to do with 20,000 mine-resistant trucks

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Military, Specialty

The venerable HMMWV served the United States military as the go-to vehicle for 25 solid years. Before that, various militarized Jeep models had been pressed into service since 1941, when the army first identified the need for a lightweight, all-terrain vehicle capable of carrying a few troops and all their gear into battle.

It seems the so-called Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAPS for short) aren't going to have the same kind of life expectancy as their predecessors. According to CNN, the military is finding it difficult to cook up uses for the 20,000 MRAPS it possesses that are no longer needed for the war in Iraq, where the threat of improvised explosive devises necessitated gigantic V-shaped hulls and several tons of armor.

Due to the sheer size and weight of the machines, along with the specialized nature of their design, the military isn't likely to continue using MRAPS in differing battlefield conditions after troops are pulled from Afghanistan in 2014. So, what will become of these 20,000 MRAPS? So far, the only option on the list is for mine clearing and explosive ordinance disposal. Thing is, they don't need 20,000 of them for that.

In any case, one thing is for certain: Lives were saved due to the ability of the MRAPS to protect U.S. troops from roadside explosives (see above). And for that, everyone is thankful. As far as the future goes... may we suggest heavily armored food trucks? Or perhaps the SEMA Show circuit?

Army trying to figure out what to do with 20,000 mine-resistant trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep J8 gets shot up to earn ballistic protection certification

Zach Bowman — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Jeep, Military, Off-Road

Jeep J8 undergoes ballistic tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

In its ongoing quest to return the Jeep name to its military roots, Chrysler has just put the J8 through ballistic and blast certification. The company says that its using a new manufacturing technique by hot-forming steel to create a protective shell for the vehicle. Sounds fancy, and evidently it's tough enough to take the kind of abuse necessary to be awarded BRV 2009 VR7 ballistic protection certification. What does all that mean? No matter what your daily commute throws at you, chances are this beefed-up Wrangler will get you to work in one piece.

The J8 is currently being marketed to military, government and private security operations that require the kind of vehicle that can drive through a hail of small-arms fire without getting perforated. There are also a number other configurations available - everything from well-armed patrol vehicles to troop and cargo transports.

We wouldn't mind having one of each to play around with for a weekend... how about you? Thanks for the tip, Joe!

Gallery: Jeep J8 Ballistic Tests

[Source: Jeep Facebook]

Jeep J8 gets shot up to earn ballistic protection certification originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2008: Knight XV armored SUV lets you take your undergound lair with you

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:06:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Tuners, Truck

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Knight KV Armored Vehicle

The first word that came to mind when we saw the Knight XV was this: warthog. Sure, there are other words you could use, but consider this: it's not attractive, it's ridiculously tough, it's called in to deal with nasty situations and it kills things, all of which tend to be the traits of vehicles that earn the moniker "warthog." Based on the Gurkha military vehicle, the 10,000-pound, Ford F-350 Super Duty-based Knight XV is armored to an unspecified degree, but looks like it will stop more than a pea-shooter. It's got a 6.8-liter V10 that packs 400 hp and 500 lb-ft to keep you moving, and inboard ABS brakes to get you stopped. Those tires are 40-inchers wrapped around 20-inch aircraft-grade wheels. Oh, and it also runs on E85, which means it's more environmentally friendly than any other warthog. Except the hairy one. Check out the specs after the jump, and the gallery of high-res photos below featuring details shots and images of the interior, as well.

Gallery: SEMA 2008: Knight XV Armored Vehicle

Continue reading SEMA 2008: Knight XV armored SUV lets you take your undergound lair with you

SEMA 2008: Knight XV armored SUV lets you take your undergound lair with you originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL, players ordering bulletproof vehicles after Collier attack

Chris Shunk — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Professional football players have been victims of gun violence on several occasions over the past year and a half, and investigators in the latest incident involving Carolina's Richard Collier say the offensive tackle was targeted. The NFL and some top athletes have had enough and contacted the Texas Armoring Corporation for help. The TAC creates custom bullet-proof vehicles for movie stars and public figures, and the company is a self-proclaimed expert at converting luxury vehicles into a blingtastic Brinks-mobile. The TAC says that 80-90% of attacks happen in the car, making armored vehicles a good option for those in the public eye. Professional athletes buying an armored car from the TAC can also get a professional threat assessment from two former CIA operatives.

A quick glance at the TAC website shows that you can get a Cadillac Escalade with 8,000 miles and the ability to stop an AK47 or M-16 for $147,000. That's a bit over blue book for a used SUV, but when considering that it has one-inch-thick glass and European B6 level protection, the six figure price tag isn't all that shocking. It's just sad that we're at the point athletes need a 9,000 lb, overstuffed SUV to get to the game in one piece.

[Source: Business Wire]

NFL, players ordering bulletproof vehicles after Collier attack originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clinton receives first presidential hybrid

John Neff — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Government/Legal, Green

President Clinton will be the first U.S. president ever to use a hybrid outfitted for presidential service thanks to Ford, who will be presenting our 42nd president with a Mercury Mariner Hybrid "Presidential Edition" at the Clinton Global Initiative conference later this month in New York City. The Mariner Hybrid has been modified to include LED interior lighting, a 110-volt outlet and a writing table. Everything else on the vehicle, including the hybrid powertrain that delivers 32 mpg in the city, is supposedly stock.

We say supposedly because most presidential vehicles are heavily modified with armor and other technologies to thwart assassination attempts. The LED interior lighting installed in Clinton's Mariner Hybrid suggests the window glass is either heavily tinted for privacy or has been replaced with a transparent armor similar to the kind used on President Bush's armored Cadillac DTS limo that's so thick it blocks natural sunlight.

Speaking of presidential vehicles, did you know that the presidential motorcade is typically 35 cars long? A lot of gas could be saved by switching that fleet over to a next generation powertrain. Follow the jump to see what vehicles follow the president when he's out on the town and in what order.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Clinton receives first presidential hybrid

Clinton receives first presidential hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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