Police armored vehicle
A police armored vehicle, also referred to as a police rescue vehicle, armored rescue vehicle, tactical police vehicle, or SWAT vehicle, is a non-military armored vehicle used by police, primarily police tactical units and riot police, to respond to incidents that necessitate their use. They are most often in configurations similar to military light utility vehicles, infantry mobility vehicles, or armoured personnel carriers. They are generally designed to have armor that can sufficiently block high-caliber rounds, space to carry the unit's equipment, and sufficient passenger seating; some also allow for additional personnel to hang onto the side of the vehicle in transit.
Production
A police armored vehicle may simply be an unarmored van, truck, or SUV used to transport equipment or officers or used as a command post. Other more specialized vehicles may be demilitarized armored personnel carriers or MRAPs acquired as military surplus or designed specifically as police vehicles to allow officers to operate in situations where armed confrontation is likely. Specialized heavy-duty commercial vehicles can be up-fitted and built solely as police armored vehicles, such as the Lenco BearCat, which is built on a Ford F-Series chassis. Ambulances and armored cars can also be converted into police armored vehicles, though this is less common.By country
China
In China, one of the most widely used tactical vehicles used by the police is the "Saber tooth tiger". It is based on the Ford F-550 and, according to its manufacturer, can withstand M16 and AK-47 rounds, has multiple gun ports, a top speed of 130km/h, a maximum occupancy of 10 personnel and a cost of 2 million yuan.France
Among other armoured vehicles, the National Police RAID and Search and Intervention Brigade are equipped with different armoured vans such as the Panhard PVP, former armored cars, and infantry mobility vehicles such as the Nexter Titus.Germany
Armoured police vehicles were first introduced after World War I by German police forces, who had more than hundred armoured vehicles called Sonderwagen. Nowadays the Federal Police and the state police forces still maintain armoured vans, like Sonderwagen 4 and Sonderwagen 5. The federal police recently also ordered the LAPV Enok in addition to its Mowag Eagle and ATF Dingo. The SEK special state police units use armored vehicles like the LAPV Enok and the Survivor R.Japan
s have been operating some series of Armoured buses, mainly used as mobile shelters and barriers. More heavily armored vehicles called Special Armored Vehicles were introduced in the 1960s. The first deployed model was called Type F-3, based on Mitsubishi's cab-after-engine trucks. They were initially treated as idlers because there are only few reports of gun violence in Japan, but they were highly appreciated during the Asama-Sansō incident in 1972 and their significance were widely recognized.After several model changes, Type PV-2 based on the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter is now deployed nationwide, mainly for anti-firearms squads. There are also simplified versions called Special Police van and much larger Heavy Special Armored Vehicles; the latter is dedicated to the Special Assault Teams.