Armox® armor plate makes SUVs bulletproof

When Wattenberg founded British Armour in 2003, he needed to find a protection plate that could meet stringent criteria. The Norwegian has a background in the defense industry, and it was here he first came in contact with SSAB.

The company selected Armox®, which offers excellent ballistic protection and can withstand different types of attacks. British Armour buys SUVs, dismantles them and then armors them with Armox®. To simplify production, SSAB delivers the material in smooth, large pieces. This minimizes welding work as well as wear and tear on the laser cutters used to cut the steel.

As part of the certification process, each model is exposed to 600 bullets, 33 pounds of TNT and several hand grenades. In addition to armor plating, the vehicles also come fit with customized equipment to suit the specific needs of each customer. An overpressure system in the cabin provides protection against gas attacks, and containers holding tear gas, oil and road spikes effectively deter pursuers.

“Our vehicles are built to withstand gunfire and roadside bombs,” says Wattenberg. “Steel is the absolute best material for this objective, and there is no steel better than Armox® for armor steel plating. Everyone in the industry knows this, which gives us an advantage over our competitors.”