Ford First to Offer Armor Piercing Bullet Protection on Persuit Rated Interceptor

[68fastback]

Ford Police Interceptors Become First Pursuit-Rated Police Vehicle to Offer Ballistic Protection Against Armor-Piercing Rifle Ammunition

US Department of Justice standard Type IV specifies protection against armor-piercing .30 caliber rifle ammunition
First pursuit rated police vehicle to offer Type IV ballistic panels in the United States
Optional ballistic panels are in addition to the long list of existing safety features available on the Ford Police Interceptor sedan and utility



DEARBORN, Mich., March 10, 2016 –Ford announced today it will offer ballistic panels on their Police Interceptor sedan and utility with protection from armor-piercing rifle ammunition.

More... (https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/03/10/ford-police-interceptors-first-vehicle-to-offer-ballistic-protection.html)

[Alloy Dave]

Wonder if they have to increase engine HP for any extra weight. Also, tires will be the weak link...need those old fender skirts from the old luxury cars for that LOL

[68fastback]

Probably lots of mods needed depending on the caliber of rounds they're trying to fend off ...which drives weight ...which drives most all the other mods needed.

I was reading an article about 18 months ago on the US vehicle armor aftermarket industry ...the vast majority of orders ship to South America ...I guess that makes sense given dictators, drug trade and money laundering ...all sort of lend themselves to being targeted :gun: lol

[Alloy Dave]

Probably lots of mods needed depending on the caliber of rounds they're trying to fend off ...which drives weight ...which drives most all the other mods needed.

I was reading an article about 18 months ago on the US vehicle armor aftermarket industry ...the vast majority of orders ship to South America ...I guess that makes sense given dictators, drug trade and money laundering ...all sort of lend themselves to being targeted :gun: lol

About 6 years ago I visited one of our distributors in Mexico. They handled all the police tactical vehicles, and I was amazed at how well protected they had to be when they go into these drug cartel areas. It was basically a tank. 1" thick steel. The size of a large SUV, but needed a 750 HP diesel engine just to get the thing moving due to all the weight. Had those little "portholes" in the sides where the agents could shoot through yet be behind the thick metal.

[Joe G]

Also, tires will be the weak link...need those old fender skirts from the old luxury cars for that LOL

Don't think they're trying to make it totally "bullet proof" - more to provide additional protection for the largest and most critical area in general. Lots of PO's need to crouch behind something during a shooting - the engine block is really the only structural piece that currently can stop a round. Being able to use the car doors (which are NOT BP unlike what's shown in the movies :doh:) I'm sure will help save lives.

The only other area that would make a difference, I'd guess, is BP glass - but that adds a lot more cost and even more weight. Again, I doubt they will use this as a lightweight tank - more so to take away a large area that could lead to a fatal body shot.

[68fastback]

Some detail here...

http://www.examiner.com/article/ford-police-cars-will-offer-ballistic-protection-against-armor-piercing-bullets