Allowing fast and effective tactical entry into above ground areas
When presented with high-risk situations that require teams to breach buildings or vehicles, special units need high quality equipment that allows rapid entry for maximum effect. At this year’s Enforce Tac, PSV Project Support Vehicles is exhibiting the new and unique Assault Multi-Ramp 2018 (AMR18) on stand 12-504 that allows fast and effective tactical entry into above ground areas.
The AMR18 is the brainchild of a serving German law enforcement special forces operator, who personally designed and developed the versatile mobile ramp through experiences on operations. He is now working closely with PSV, which will be responsible for sales and manufacture of the ramp equipment, as well as training packages and training equipment that includes a specially-constructed frame to practice various breaching methods.
Used instead of ladders or stands, the AMR18 features hooks integrated with six tungsten carbide glass breakers that can punch through glass and then grip onto the frame to secure it in place. The hooks can be placed so that the ramp is facing either perpendicular or parallel to the breach point.
The designer of the ramp, who cannot be named for operational reasons, told MONCh that these hooks can be swapped with stronger types for breaking building windows and for securing onto rooftops.
One of the big advantages of the 7m-long AMR18, explained the operator, is the ability to keep both hands on the weapon when walking up the ramp, compared with ladders when personnel can only use one hand because of safety reasons. “And you do not have to think about where you put your feet.” he explained.
For added safety, there is extremely grippy rubber as well as anodized aluminium that makes the ramp more durable. At around 35-40kg, the system can be carried by just two personnel or wheeled along using adaptable rollers. Despite this light weight, its total load capacity is an impressive 500kg of payload, allowing for several members of the team to traverse across it during breaching. The special patent pending design allows for two ramps to be fixed together to give teams the ability to breach openings 4 metres up. #
PSV Managing Director Michael Sawatzki said that the finished product would be available by the summer and that the company would be putting the item on stock, meaning that customers would not have to wait for items to be manufactured to order.
At this year’s Enforce Tac the company is also showcasing the latest generation HMV SURVIVOR I 4×4 security vehicle, which is manufactured by Austrian company Achleitner and sold to customers by PSV. The configuration on display this year incorporates a five-door roof structure with hydraulically extendable stairs to allow personnel to easily breach upper floors of buildings. This is operational with several special forces units.
Passengers inside are highly protected, with the vehicle achieving ballistic STANAG Level 2 protection standard, Mine STANAG Level 2 protection and IED protection.
The vehicle’s 285hp engine provides 970Nm of torque, along with an automatic transmission that propels the vehicle up to a high speed of 110km/h. The gross vehicle weight of the HMV SURVIVOR I is 12,300kg and is capable of carrying eight personnel as passengers along with a driver and commander in the front. The vehicle features an additional payload capacity of 2,300 kilogrammes.
PSV is also displaying its armoured cabin solutions that it provides to FENDT for its agricultural vehicles, the specific example here in Nuremberg is for the latter company’s 800 and 900 series tractor vehicles. While painted up in police decals, Mr Sawatzki noted that these vehicles are usually used for activities where there is a risk of finding unexploded ordnance and possibly setting off old World War II bombs.
Grant Turnbull
