The most armored car in the world

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Such cars are equipped with bulletproof glass, thickened steel elements and a polycarbonate body - everything that will make the vehicle impregnable. It will take an entire army to stop him. In addition to high levels of protection, such cars offer their owners unsurpassed luxury - style is not sacrificed for safety. In order to be protected and inconspicuous, you will need a car from those presented on our list, although it costs a lot of money.

Lexus LS 460 L – $300,000

The Lexus LS 460 L combines design and safety with dozens of armored and non-armored features. The car is a creation of INKAS, a manufacturer of armored vehicles of various configurations. It's heavy but fast with a powerful 389 hp engine. and an 8-speed gearbox. The body can withstand attacks from small arms and mortars, although outwardly no one would think that the vehicle is so reliable.

Carro Forte 915 E

Here is another cash collection vehicle called Carro Forte 915 E. This mini truck is also mainly used for transporting currency notes and other securities.

This car will also be too tough for criminals.

Yes, of course, getting inside the Carro Forte 915 E is much easier than an armored truck, but this does not mean that attackers will be able to steal money.

The collection Mercedes is equipped with a special safe with a security system.

For example, when you try to break into a safe, the polyurethane foam injection system will work, which will make the theft pointless.

Theoretically, thieves can steal the money, but they only need 22 seconds to do so. You understand that this is only possible for James Bond in a film about agent 007.

BMW 750 Li – $340,000

The international corporation International Armoring Corporation has modernized the familiar BMW car and turned it into a real tank on wheels. The BMW 750 Li is equipped with an 8V engine producing 400 hp. and an armored body. Many similar cars protect the rear seats or the main passenger compartment to keep the cost down. But this model is fully protected, it even has an armored exhaust pipe, battery, radiator, front fender and fuel tank.

BMW 750Li Sedan

The engineers of the legendary German automaker decided not to invent a “bicycle”, but to modernize the familiar model, which had long since successfully proven itself on the market, turning it into a full-fledged tank. The BMW 750Li Sedan is equipped with a powerful power plant with a maximum output of 400 horsepower and a fully armored body. In this model, even the exhaust pipe, radiator and battery are protected from fire.

Unlike many other cars, the development process of the BMW 750Li Sedan was based solely on the needs and personal preferences of the VIP. Thanks to the heavy-duty suspension, the sedan feels great in any difficult terrain. The price of the BMW 750Li Sedan is about 350 thousand dollars.

Cadillac Escalade ESV – $350,000

Becker Automotive Design spared no expense to design a luxurious interior with leather upholstery and fine wood accents. The salon, expanded by 50 cm, is a modern office with everything necessary for work, including large flat-screen monitors. The ESV armored vehicle is equipped with strong, reliable wheels and 40mm thick bulletproof glass. Other parts of the car are also protected.

7. Mercedes-Benz S-Guard – $400,000

The armored Mercedes-Benz S-Guard has become very popular in the market due to its stylish design, armor and reinforced exterior parts that provide maximum protection to passengers. An S-Guard-class vehicle can withstand an attack from an M-60 machine gun. In case of a gas attack, the cabin is equipped with an autonomous oxygen system. Well-sealed bulletproof glass, controlled by hydraulics, will also protect during a gas attack.

Knight XV – $629,000

The Knight XV is the flagship vehicle from Conquest Vehicles, a leading manufacturer of armored vehicles. The military-style model, equipped with a 10 V-engine, is the only one of its kind. Its production is limited to 100 units. The car is armored from the windshield to the rims. In addition, it has a luxurious interior - a kind of “luxury” room on wheels. The salon is equipped with satellite TV, a bar, a cooler, a seat heating system, a black box, a music and media center.

Armored tank truck

The Oshkosh HEMTT A4 tank truck is an ideal solution for transporting flammable liquids in military operations where it is not possible to transport flammable liquids in conventional fuel tankers.

The cargo tank is capable of transporting about 9,400 liters of gasoline.

There is also a winch on board the truck that can withstand nine tons. This will help the Oshkosh HEMTT A4 if the truck gets stuck in difficult terrain.

Oshkosh also offers an armored conventional truck for transporting various cargo weighing up to 9.8 tons.

Huron APC – $630,000

Instead of hiding in a regular looking car, we go out in this car and let everyone know that we are ready for anything. The Huron APC attack and defense vehicle can withstand attacks from a 7.62 caliber M80 machine gun. The bottom can withstand a grenade explosion, and passengers can fire back from a machine gun mounted on the roof. Of course, this car is not suitable for secular affairs.

Audi A8 Security – $700,000

The Audi A8 Security is fully armored, but looks like a regular car. Steel and ceramic elements are made of special alloys, and the car itself has been certified by German specialists from the German Ballistics Testing Center. It was hand-assembled by experienced workers in 400 hours. The case and glass can withstand almost all attacks. The car can be modified according to the client's requirements. The cabin has a smoke detector, digital radio system, siren and LED signals.

3. Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG – $1 million

The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG from INKAS is one of the best armored limousines available on the market. It successfully combines luxury and safety. The car is equipped with a leather interior, exclusive lighting, bulletproof glass, cameras, an armored tank and other reinforced and armored elements. The owner of the car is completely safe inside.

Rezvani Tank Military Edition

Before starting work on this armored car, the American company Rezvani specialized exclusively in small-scale production of exclusive sports cars. However, at some point they decided to switch their attention to the production of armored vehicles. The Tank Military Edition model is currently the company's only SUV.

The automaker's engineers tried to make it as powerful as possible. In fact, the Tank Military Edition actually has a lot in common with a real battle tank. The SUV is equipped with an armored capsule containing passengers and bulletproof glass. In addition, the Tank Military Edition has a powerful fire protection system.

The armored car has powerful tires and a heavy-duty suspension that allows the SUV to remain on the move, even after it has hit a mine. Among other things, if necessary, the Rezvani Tank Military Edition can release a smoke screen, which will disorient enemies and leave unnoticed. Inside the SUV there is a huge selection of medicines and first aid supplies, as well as several gas masks.

2. Cadillac “The Beast” – $1.5 million

This is the only iconic vehicle of all the armored vehicles on the list, as it is the car of the US President, who is known by the nickname “The Beast”. Its cost is 1.5 million dollars. The car is equipped with an armored tank, a fire-fighting system, an autonomous oxygen system, and weapons. The case is made of steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramics. It is not possible to open the car from the outside in case of danger.

Karlmann King

Here is a giant six-ton SUV, which was designed based on the design of the legendary Ford F-550 pickup truck. Looking at the Karlmann King, it is not surprising that it claims to be the most powerful armored car in the world. The body of the Karlmann King was made in the style of stormtroopers, combined with bulletproof panels and a lot of innovative gadgets. The estimated price of an armored SUV in its basic configuration is about two million dollars. For a personalized Karlmann King you will have to pay about $3.8 million.

The “charged” version of the SUV includes: natural wood and gold trim, double the number of touch screens, an ultra-modern multimedia system and even a strobe light.

Kombat T98 – $1.5 million

Dartz, the Russian manufacturer of Prombron, has released the most expensive armored vehicle, the Kombat T98. The armored SUV features a luxurious whale penis leather interior, a diamond-encrusted white gold dashboard and gold frames. The car is popular among Russian politicians and European royalty. The vehicle's armor protects the 8.1-liter 8V engine and valuable passengers. Power and money are, of course, great, but because of them there are a lot of restrictions that make life boring and insipid. But there are so many interesting things in the world, for example, you can ride in cars based on cartoons.

Car reservation: types and guarantees of protection

Car reservation can be:

original (factory), when protective elements are installed during the assembly process;
non-original when the car is disassembled and reassembled.

Original reservations are made only by a limited number of automobile factories (BMW, Audi and others), while most cars are reserved by special companies.

It should be noted that armor, increasing the weight of the car, reduces its maneuverability and speed.

Materials from which the armor is made:

steel and aluminum. Aluminum armor will withstand 9-mm bullets, steel (depending on the thickness) - against a machine gun threat or a rifle-caliber machine gun. Unfortunately, both types will not cope with most remote control bombs;
fabrics. Kevlar fiber - provides the simplest options for protection inside the car;
ceramics and glass fiber reinforced plastic. The first option is often used for protection and in aviation, due to its strength and efficiency. Reinforced plastic is highly resistant to bullets;
bulletproof glass - usually used from one to eight layers;
acrylic compounds and polycarbonates are transparent, durable and lightweight, but flammable.

How are cars booked?

The first stage is choosing a booking category. The class determines what type of weapon protection is guaranteed against. Based on this, the necessary materials for booking are selected.

Car protection categories (there are seven in total):

B1–B7 characterize the security of the car body; by analogy, BR1–BR7 act for glass. The most common protection classes are B4 and B6/B7.

Special equipment for armored vehicles:

bulletproof tires that are functional even after damage;
built-in fire extinguishers;
GPS location system;
special intercoms;
remote engine start;
ventilation from the outside - protection against attacks using gas, and so on.

At the second stage of booking, the car is covered with a protective film, the car is completely disassembled from the inside, a three-dimensional model is built, from which armored capsule patterns are then made. It takes no more than seven hours to disassemble the car down to the frame. The insides of the car are covered with layers of materials:

Then armor plates are inserted and so on - depending on the protection class.

The protection of the gas tank is being modified, stronger brakes are installed, the suspension is brought into line with a weight of 500 kg or more, the weight of the car increases significantly due to the armor.

They modify the engine compartment by welding in plates and install protection for the underbody and the main electronic systems. Some models are equipped with armored blinds for the radiator.

Install bulletproof glass (Bulletproof Glass / Transparent Armor) or Lexan. Armored car glass is collected in a special room, since the smallest speck of dust can weaken the glass. They are made by alternating layers of glass and polycarbonate, and tested with different types of weapons, for example, using the standard NATO sniper combat weapon - the M80 rifle. The average thickness of such glass is 5 cm, it can be lowered very slightly - for example, so that you can stretch a pass.

Wheels are mounted with special inserts that allow you to drive up to 50 kilometers on a punctured/shot wheel - usually this is enough to leave a dangerous place.

Little things remain: strengthen all the door hinges, protect the openings, install various additional options and, in general, bring the car into a “marketable” condition.

The machine is rolled out of the workshop and handed over to the customer.

Armored vehicle repair

Such cars require a special approach to repair work. The most common operations for an armored vehicle:

restoration of armor protection of a car after an accident;
replacement of bulletproof glass;
repair of metal armor protection;
car door replacement;
body repair;
installation of a fire extinguishing system;
replacement of spare parts for electrical equipment, small elements of the protection system, as well as standard components and assemblies;
the large mass of the car body creates vulnerabilities in the engine, transmission, and chassis.

Armored vehicles are more expensive to repair than their regular counterparts because parts often have to be custom-made.

Renault HiGuard

Renault not only makes the Clio, Megane and Espace, but also makes stunning armored vehicles.

Renault HiGuard trucks are versatile. For example, they can be used to transport people in hot spots during military operations, and can also serve as a command post, fire truck and even military ambulance.

Obama's Armored Car

Barack Obama's luxury official limousine is nicknamed "The Beast". It is called the most armored car in the world:

door armor - 20 centimeters;
window armor - 12 centimeters;
oxygen cylinders in case of a chemical attack;
tear gas cannons;
weight more than 8 tons;
Duramax engine, which consumes fuel of any quality and eliminates explosion;
speed limit is 100 km/h.

The vehicle was developed on the platform of the GMC TopKick pickup truck by General Motors. She has her own plane, a C-17 Globemaster, which is used by the Presidential Security Service to transport cars. Interestingly, Obama has several clones of the Beast at his disposal, none of which have numbers. How much does Obama's armored car cost? Approximately about $300,000.

Taking care of your comfort and safety is very important. Which “beast” would you choose when buying an armored vehicle, and why?

Armored vehicles: delving into the essence of urban “tanks”

One of the key human needs is security. Armored vehicles are often associated with something unshakable and impregnable. Judge for yourself, armor saved the lives of such people as Alexander II, Aslan Maskhadov, Ronald Reagan, Eduard Shevardnadze, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, Anatoly Chubais... At the same time, the murders of Archduke Ferdinand and President John Kennedy are directly related to cars. It turns out that the emergence and development of protected armored vehicles, albeit indirectly, still influences the course of history.

The concept of “armored car” hides several very specific images, each of which has its own characteristics. The only thing they have in common is an increased level of security. Then the nuances come into play. How the armored car will turn out depends, first of all, on the tasks and technical specifications, which determines the use of certain solutions. What will it be? A military armored vehicle for combat operations, a vehicle with a high payload for the safe transportation of valuables, or a passenger model with hidden protection?

Military armored vehicles

Equipment originally developed for military and law enforcement agencies, as a rule, has bulletproof and sometimes projectile-proof armor. In most cases, it is a highly protected vehicle that performs the function of transporting personnel to the site of a special operation or the center of hostilities. In some cases, such armored vehicles have reconnaissance equipment and special weapons.

In the photo on the left is the new Ural-VV, developed according to the technical specifications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A vehicle with a single-volume armored body that can accommodate up to 17 fully armed soldiers. In the center is the highly protected MBOMBE 6x6 armored personnel carrier produced by the South African Paramount Group. On the right... Yes, yes, you read that right. This is Gelandewagen. Everyone knows about its original military origins, so it is not surprising that among its many variants there were also armored versions

Prominent representatives of army armored vehicles in Russia are the VPK-233114 “Tiger-M” and the Iveco LMV “Lynx”. Since, in fact, these are cars of the same class, they have similar features and clearly demonstrate the main features of such vehicles: independent suspension on all wheels, increased cross-country ability and, of course, armor that provides protection from small arms and shrapnel, as well as reinforced protection of the underbody of the car, protecting the crew from the effects of explosive devices.

Iveco LMV “Lynx” (left). Similar cars were spotted in Syria in 2022. They were used by Russian sappers when clearing mines in liberated areas. On the right is the GAZ “Okhotnik” based on the GAZ-233114 “Tiger-M”. Initially, this car was created for the UAE, but later found application in its homeland

Armored collection vehicles

Armored collection or special communications vehicles designed for transporting valuable cargo. Such equipment is most often built on the basis of existing chassis of vans, minivans and trucks. Several years ago, when bank cards were a rarity and a significant portion of purchases were made in cash, money was especially often transported in armored trucks. With the growing share of non-cash payments and payments by “cards,” the share of transporting money in armored vehicles is gradually decreasing (this is one of the banks’ targets in terms of optimization), but physical valuables are still transported in them.

On the left is a collection vehicle based on a VW Crafter van. In the center is one of the largest cash-in-transit vehicles in the world - the monstrous Constellation 24.280 8x2 Protege. Sometimes pickup truck chassis are used as the starting base for a collection vehicle. In this case, the donor was a VW Amarok (right)

The larger the initial platform, the easier it is for engineers to achieve the required level of security. The main factor in this case is mass. The passenger platform must be modified so that the category of the vehicle does not change. For obvious reasons, this problem no longer occurs with trucks.

Cars with hidden reservations

An outwardly inconspicuous model of hidden reservation - sometimes it is just the image of the owner, but more often it is additional security measures. Such equipment is also created mainly on components and assemblies of production cars, but at the same time, engineers are faced with the task of providing not only an increased level of protection relative to the production analogue, but also camouflaging the armor. The latter, in some way, also works for security, preventing attackers from planning an attack in advance, based on the actual degree of security.

On the left are armored Mercedes-Benzes from different eras. In the center is a special armored car for the Pope based on the Mercedes-Benz ML 430. In common people it was called the “Popemobile”. On the right is the armored Hongqi HQE L9 of the Secretary General of the People's Republic of China

While externally similar to its unarmored counterpart, the protected version is noticeably different not only from an engineering point of view, but also from an operational one. The heaviest doors, thick windows that do not allow sounds from outside to enter the cabin, special tires... For the driver, this sometimes means a significantly increased mass and, as a result, gigantic inertia, requiring more careful control.

Things from days gone by

The first significant event in the world of armored transport, perhaps, was the assassination attempt on Alexander II (March 1, 1881), when on the embankment of the Catherine Canal in St. Petersburg, members of the Narodnaya Volya threw a bomb under his crew. Thanks to the steel sheets covering the bottom of the carriage, the emperor was not injured.

The carriage of Alexander II, in which he was at the time of the assassination attempt

After the explosion, Alexander II decided to leave his armored citadel to examine the wounded, for which he paid with his life, falling under the second explosion.

As the internal combustion engine replaced horse-drawn traction, small workshops began to appear, offering handicraft modifications to the first production executive cars. And even the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife in the representative (but unprotected) Gref & Stift in 1914, which became the reason for the outbreak of the First World War, did not serve as an impetus for the rapid development of armored vehicles, including for top officials.

Gräf & Stift, in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed

It’s funny, but the underworld, whose king at that time was the American Al Capone, took on the task of “restoring justice” in this matter. His completely unique Cadillac 341 featured bulletproof glass, quarter-inch (6.3 mm) armor throughout the body (including the soft top) and hidden door loopholes.

Cadillac 341, owned by the main US gangster of the 30s Al Capone

Among other things, Al Capone's Cadillac was equipped with an oil discharge system into the exhaust pipe to create a smoke screen and a special hatch in the floor through which steel spikes, for example, could be thrown onto the road.

The history of this car could be considered closed after the gangster was put behind bars, but on February 15, 1933, there was an attempt on the life of US President Franklin Roosevelt in Chicago, after which the well-known Cadillac began to be used in the interests of the country's first person.

Roosevelt was not the only US president who was tried and failed to assassinate. This is the Lincoln Continental they drove away from the assassination site of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.

After some time, well-known brands of leading Western countries began to produce armored vehicles of their own design, which were used by the most famous personalities of that era - heads of state and other prominent political figures.

Mercedes-Benz 770 Pullman-Limousine Gepanzerte, actively used by the highest ranks of the Wehrmacht

Suffice it to recall the majestic Mercedes-Benz 770 - the car of the party elite of Nazi Germany - or the Stalinist ZiS-115, developed on the basis of the ZiS-110, which, in turn, traced its lineage to the American Packard, donated to the leader of the people by Franklin Roosevelt.

Stalin's ZiS-115 is a very beautiful car!

When the ZiS-115 was presented to Stalin, he seated the designers in it and ordered them to open fire on the car: he checked the declared characteristics in practice. It is difficult to even imagine the level of responsibility with which Soviet engineers worked then.

After World War II, both in the USA and in the USSR (and even more so in other countries), armored vehicles were practically not used, which cost the life of John Kennedy and could have cost Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. In fact, after the last assassination attempt, we even had to uncover the ZiS-115, which had been forgotten during the Khrushchev Thaw.

Assassination attempt on Brezhnev

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was saved from the inevitable death by the fact that the attacker Viktor Ilyin chose the “wrong” car for the attack: in the cabin of the Zil-111 it was not the Secretary General, but the cosmonauts of the Soyuz-4 and Soyuz-5 ships. As a result, Brezhnev was not injured, but the driver of the car suffered (Ilya Zharkov was mortally wounded) and the cosmonauts (Georgy Beregovoy was wounded by glass fragments, Leonov’s overcoat was pierced by a bullet, and Andriyan Nikolaev’s back was scratched). The accompanying motorcyclist, V.A. Zatsepilov, also received a gunshot wound.

Thus, in our country, the next round of development of “bunkers on wheels” began only in the 80s of the 20th century, when ZIL-41057 and ZIL-41052 were developed for the leadership of the party, which became real symbols of their era.

On the left is ZIL-114. One of these cars was supposed to be the place of death of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. But fate decreed otherwise. In the center is ZIL-41047. The last car of this type was produced only in 2002. US presidents - both during the Cold War and today - prefer to use armored Cadillacs (right)

The latest armored vehicles, developed for the top officials of the USSR, had an armored capsule built into the body, which provided a level of safety comparable to the best foreign analogues. It is a pity that such valuable experience of Soviet designers in modern Russia has remained unclaimed.

Top 5 assassinations involving armored vehicles

1. Assassination attempt on Anatoly Chubais

On March 17, 2005, on the Minsk Highway, an attempt was made on the life of one of the most unpopular politicians in the history of modern Russia, Anatoly Chubais: as the motorcade was leaving, an explosive device (about 1 kg in TNT equivalent) was detonated on the side of the road, and after some time an opening was opened on the cars machine gun fire. During the attack, the car of the then head of RAO UES of Russia (a factory-reserved BMW-760Li) was practically undamaged, receiving only minor damage to the hood and windshield.

2. Assassination attempt on Eduard Shevardnadze

On February 9, 1998, on the way to the residence, the armored Mercedes-Benz S600 of the President of Georgia was attacked. During the assassination attempt on the government motorcade, not only small arms were used, but also “Mukha” and RPG-7 grenade launchers. One of the grenades hit the engine compartment of the first person’s car, but Shevardnadze himself was not injured.

3. Attempt on Yunus-bek Evkurov

On June 22, 2009, on the Nazran-Magas highway, a car filled with explosives (according to some sources, there were about 70 kg) wedged into the motorcade of the head of Ingushetia. As a result of a powerful explosion, the President of the Republic, driving an armored Mercedes W220, was seriously injured, but survived. At the same time, the driver, who is Yunus-bek Yevkurov’s cousin, later died from his injuries in the hospital.

4. Attempt on Soso Ordzhonikidze

On June 20, 2002, at the turn from Rublevskoye to Mozhaiskoye Highway, the armored Volvo S80 of Moscow Vice-Mayor Soso Ordzhonikidze was attacked. Several people, pretending to be police officers, stopped the official's car and opened fire on him with small arms (Makarov pistols and a Stechkin submachine gun). Despite the fact that several bullets hit the windows and body, the vice-mayor was not injured.

5. Attempt on Murat Zyazikov

On the morning of April 6, 2004, on the Nazran-Magas highway, the armored Mercedes-Benz S600 of the President of Ingushetia came alongside a mined VAZ-2107 driven by a suicide bomber. As a result of the detonation of 100 kg of explosives, Murat Zyazikov and his guards were injured, but survived. At the same time, in place of the attacker’s car, only a crater with a radius of 3 meters and a depth of 80 cm remained.

How does it work

Initially, an increased level of protection was provided by integrating high-strength steel sheets under the body panels, floor and roof. However, this method is sufficient only if small arms are used against the vehicle. Therefore, over time, the technology for manufacturing armored vehicles has become significantly more complex.

Initially, the original car is almost completely disassembled and an armored capsule is mounted in the body, which is the basis of all protection. The material used is often heterogeneous steel sheets with surface heat treatment on one side. Thanks to this approach, two problems are solved at once: the outer side of the sheet (with high hardness) provides maximum bullet resistance, and the inner (sticky) side protects passengers from fragments that can form when a car is fired at with armor-piercing bullets, when the blunt core knocks out pieces of metal from this very sheet . In some cases, spaced armor is used - armor plates are located at a distance from each other to provide a better degree of protection. Between the armor and the interior lining of the cabin there are layers of polyvinyl chloride or Kevlar, which makes it possible to even more effectively protect passengers from the destructive effects of fragments or shock waves.

On the left is an image of the armored capsule in the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard. On the right - this is what Kevlar looks like, a material that protects the crew of an armored car from the damaging effects of shrapnel

Kevlar, or para-aramid fiber, has good impact energy absorption characteristics, which is why personal protective equipment is made from it: helmets and body armor.

The next element that requires improvement is the windows. For them, a double-glazed window with a thickness of 35–70 mm is produced, made of several layers, each of which, in addition to the glass itself, contains a layer of plastic. Such a “sandwich” is placed in a special frame that holds the transparent element in place in the event of an explosion. Naturally, the “original” window lifters are replaced with powerful “jacks”.

The increased weight of a car inevitably affects its driving performance. Therefore, it is mandatory to change the standard suspension to a reinforced one, and the brakes to more powerful ones. In some cases, a power unit with greater efficiency is also used, but this happens infrequently: the basis is most often taken on premium class cars that have a “from birth” high-performance power unit with enviable traction characteristics. Another thing is that such motors, at the request of the customer, can receive different firmware for the control unit. A mandatory automatic fire extinguishing system is implanted in the engine compartment.

In order to have sufficient protection, armored glass has to be made quite thick, which affects its weight, and, consequently, the design of the entire unit. The increased loads on the chassis due to the installation of armor are compensated by new reinforced elements. The automatic fire extinguishing system under the hood is triggered by a command from temperature sensors and creates an excess of carbon dioxide in a matter of seconds, which leads to neutralization of the threat of further spread of fire

One of the last, but no less important items on the list of improvements is the replacement of standard wheels with bulletproof ones, which have not only a reinforced cord, but also an internal insert that allows the car to remain on the move even with a damaged tire. Well, at the final stage, interior elements (sometimes significantly redesigned) and options such as, for example, additional communications or life support systems are installed back.

The most popular among bulletproof wheels are Michelin Pax System and Hutchinson. A set of such wheels can cost more than 14,000 euros

A question of standards

Russia, like any other country involved in the production of armored vehicles, has its own standard by which the level of security is assessed - GOST R 50963-96.

You can compare national booking standards in different countries using this table

Armored cars in our time

Since the last armored ZILs rolled off the assembly line, the situation in the country and in the world has undergone significant changes. In addition to representatives of the authorities, quite a lot of “powers of this world” have appeared who need an increased level of protection: large businessmen, show business stars and others. This, in turn, stimulated the development of armored vehicles for VIPs.

BMW X5 Security Plus, Audi A8 L Security and Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard

A person who wants to purchase this kind of equipment can do one of two things. The first is to choose a ready-made production version from some global auto giant. Most often, one of the German concerns acts as a “guarantor”: Audi (Security), BMW (Security), Mercedes (Guard). All other brands, as a rule, are reserved by special workshops. Even Bentley and Rolls-Royce don't prepare such versions of their cars at the factory.

If armored executive sedans of German brands are produced mainly in cooperation with the manufacturer of the original platform (for example, Audi Security or Mercedes-Benz Guard), then, for example, the armored Land Cruiser is often made by third-party independent companies.

The second option is to purchase any desired car and then in special workshops (such as BMD-Motors, Armor Group, Rida, etc.) endow it with one or another protection class. Actually, this method, due to its versatility, is currently the most common.

However, if you are a lover of exotics, then another solution is possible - buying a real monster of domestic production with American roots - the Kombat T-98. This car is a symbiosis of an armored body developed in Russia, coupled with a General Motors platform, components and assemblies. The result is one of the fastest and most secure SUVs in the world.

One of the most expensive, fastest and well-protected armored vehicles in the world - “Kombat” T-98

Project "Cortege"

Estimated type of limousine of the “Cortege” project

Speaking of armored vehicles, it is impossible to ignore the fact that Russia is currently working on the “Cortege” project, within the framework of which they are creating vehicles for the country’s first person and his escort. Of course, the design of these vehicles will incorporate the latest technologies aimed at preserving human life, and one can only hope that their developers will be domestic engineers. After all, it is precisely this approach that can serve as a powerful impetus for the development of this industry in our country.

Starting from the earliest examples of “armored carriages” to the latest advances in the field of car armor, which are based on perfect models, the principle of creating these “protective means” has remained virtually unchanged. But each subsequent round of technology development replaces the previous one faster and faster. Be that as it may, armored vehicles now remain an essential element in the lives of those who make key decisions in this world. Thus, these “fortresses” on wheels, albeit indirectly, are still relevant to all of us.