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The DIY armored vehicle is a uniquely Mexican product which no drug cartel worth its name would be without. For the cartel boss who has everything this is one more must-have in his fleet. But what do you call these behemoths of the road – Narco tanks, Rhino trucks? There’s no agreement on what to call these monster armored vehicles being put together by drug cartels of late. But one thing is definite; there are more of them on Mexican roads and many more under construction.
Authorities found the first armored vehicle – almost a prototype on field trials – in the aftermath of a battle in April of 2011 between two drug gangs, the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel. And since, the Mexican Defense Department has reported finding many more of these road warhorses on the roads and in various stages of construction in metalworking shops across drug country.
Experts who examined these vehicles were impressed with their size and innovation. What are rolling out of these makeshift factories are bigger than they’ve ever been before. And they carry formidable armor plate of inch-thick steel strong enough to resist fire from a 50-caliber weapon. The insulated cabin can accommodate 20 armed men, with the whole assembly mounted on a triple-axle truck bed.
One drug policy expert from the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, a research group, said they were reminiscent of the Merrimack and Monitor, two early American warships which fought in the first naval battle of the Civil War. Both were ironclad ships and first-generation technology.
Experts predict significant technological changes in the months ahead with protection for tires, a current weak-spot, up-armoring, and blast pads for mines and IEDs amongst others. Existing vehicles already feature essentials like firing ports, gun turrets, and bullet resistant glass.
Mexican Army specialists however are unfazed. The machines, they say, are sluggish and unmaneuverable, making them soft targets and no match for modern military vehicles. They are more to intimidate rivals, they maintain. Assault vehicles have confronted the Mexican military in the past and have been disabled by shooting out the tires. But tire technology is evolving and with run-flat tires, this would not have worked.
But most Mexicans pale at the sight of these elephantine monsters in photographs taken by the military. Curious though they are, they are a stark reminder that there are no place as perilous as Mexican roads in the battle against organized crime. They resemble something out of the movie Death Race.
Fighting has been particularly vicious in border towns and cities in Tamaulipas, a northern state, where many of these improvised armoring factories are located. Only recently two dump trucks in the area were found and being used, modified to protect gunmen with steel plates. Cartels appear to be in an arms race with each other in technological innovations.
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is a vehicle armoring company which has supplied many armored vehicles. Ultra Armoring has been in the vehicle armoring business for over two decades.
Armoring a vehicle is a complex, multi-layered process. At Ultra Armoring the team first studies the need and challenges prevalent in that part of the globe where the vehicle will operate. Design and selection of armoring materials are determined by the kind of projectiles and ballistics is might be called upon to resist.
Armored vehicles operating in many flashpoints in the Middle and Near East for example, will have the highest level of armoring. Cars and SUVs which operate in places like Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will be armored to resist high-velocity, high-caliber bullets, and also designed for blast resistance. The threat in such countries takes many more dangerous forms than mere high-velocity automatic rifles.
The incidence of roadside bombs is frequent, as are car bombs which are detonated when vehicles, earmarked for destruction, drive past. Roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used with disastrous consequences, and almost monotonous regularity. Another new form of terrorism is the magnetic bomb triggered either through a timer, a remote mechanism like a cell phone. This is becoming increasingly popular since it is easy to attach one to a vehicle while on the road. Invariably such devices, apart from an explosive action set the vehicle on fire, another threat which has to be catered for.
When a client decides on a particular type of vehicle, the level and type of threat is determined in consultation with Ultra Armoring. This provides the R&D department a standard to which to work to. Material selection is made compatible with the perceived threat which also governs the thickness of glass to be used.
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is one of the industry leaders in armored passenger vehicles. The company is meticulous about every stage of modification, acutely aware that even the slightest oversight can be disastrous in a firefight or a bomb blast.
The DIY armored vehicle is a uniquely Mexican product which no drug cartel worth its name would be without. For the cartel boss who has everything this is one more must-have in his fleet. But what do you call these behemoths of the road – Narco tanks, Rhino trucks? There’s no agreement on what to call these monster armored vehicles being put together by drug cartels of late. But one thing is definite; there are more of them on Mexican roads and many more under construction.
Authorities found the first armored vehicle – almost a prototype on field trials – in the aftermath of a battle in April of 2011 between two drug gangs, the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel. And since, the Mexican Defense Department has reported finding many more of these road warhorses on the roads and in various stages of construction in metalworking shops across drug country.
Experts who examined these vehicles were impressed with their size and innovation. What are rolling out of these makeshift factories are bigger than they’ve ever been before. And they carry formidable armor plate of inch-thick steel strong enough to resist fire from a 50-caliber weapon. The insulated cabin can accommodate 20 armed men, with the whole assembly mounted on a triple-axle truck bed.
One drug policy expert from the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, a research group, said they were reminiscent of the Merrimack and Monitor, two early American warships which fought in the first naval battle of the Civil War. Both were ironclad ships and first-generation technology.
Experts predict significant technological changes in the months ahead with protection for tires, a current weak-spot, up-armoring, and blast pads for mines and IEDs amongst others. Existing vehicles already feature essentials like firing ports, gun turrets, and bullet resistant glass.
Mexican Army specialists however are unfazed. The machines, they say, are sluggish and unmaneuverable, making them soft targets and no match for modern military vehicles. They are more to intimidate rivals, they maintain. Assault vehicles have confronted the Mexican military in the past and have been disabled by shooting out the tires. But tire technology is evolving and with run-flat tires, this would not have worked.
But most Mexicans pale at the sight of these elephantine monsters in photographs taken by the military. Curious though they are, they are a stark reminder that there are no place as perilous as Mexican roads in the battle against organized crime. They resemble something out of the movie Death Race.
Fighting has been particularly vicious in border towns and cities in Tamaulipas, a northern state, where many of these improvised armoring factories are located. Only recently two dump trucks in the area were found and being used, modified to protect gunmen with steel plates. Cartels appear to be in an arms race with each other in technological innovations.
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is a vehicle armoring company which has supplied many armored vehicles. Ultra Armoring has been in the vehicle armoring business for over two decades.
Armoring a vehicle is a complex, multi-layered process. At Ultra Armoring the team first studies the need and challenges prevalent in that part of the globe where the vehicle will operate. Design and selection of armoring materials are determined by the kind of projectiles and ballistics is might be called upon to resist.
Armored vehicles operating in many flashpoints in the Middle and Near East for example, will have the highest level of armoring. Cars and SUVs which operate in places like Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will be armored to resist high-velocity, high-caliber bullets, and also designed for blast resistance. The threat in such countries takes many more dangerous forms than mere high-velocity automatic rifles.
The incidence of roadside bombs is frequent, as are car bombs which are detonated when vehicles, earmarked for destruction, drive past. Roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used with disastrous consequences, and almost monotonous regularity. Another new form of terrorism is the magnetic bomb triggered either through a timer, a remote mechanism like a cell phone. This is becoming increasingly popular since it is easy to attach one to a vehicle while on the road. Invariably such devices, apart from an explosive action set the vehicle on fire, another threat which has to be catered for.
When a client decides on a particular type of vehicle, the level and type of threat is determined in consultation with Ultra Armoring. This provides the R&D department a standard to which to work to. Material selection is made compatible with the perceived threat which also governs the thickness of glass to be used.
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is one of the industry leaders in armored passenger vehicles. The company is meticulous about every stage of modification, acutely aware that even the slightest oversight can be disastrous in a firefight or a bomb blast.
RECENT BLOG
DIY Armored Trucks – A Uniquely Mexican Innovation
The DIY armored vehicle is a uniquely Mexican product which no drug cartel worth its name would be without. For the cartel boss who has everything this is one more must-have in his fleet. But what do you call these behemoths of the road – Narco tanks, Rhino trucks? There’s no agreement on what to call these monster armored vehicles being put together by drug cartels of late. But one thing is definite; there are more of them on Mexican roads and many more under construction.
Setting up Shop
Authorities found the first armored vehicle – almost a prototype on field trials – in the aftermath of a battle in April of 2011 between two drug gangs, the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel. And since, the Mexican Defense Department has reported finding many more of these road warhorses on the roads and in various stages of construction in metalworking shops across drug country.
A Small Force
Experts who examined these vehicles were impressed with their size and innovation. What are rolling out of these makeshift factories are bigger than they’ve ever been before. And they carry formidable armor plate of inch-thick steel strong enough to resist fire from a 50-caliber weapon. The insulated cabin can accommodate 20 armed men, with the whole assembly mounted on a triple-axle truck bed.
Old Memories
One drug policy expert from the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, a research group, said they were reminiscent of the Merrimack and Monitor, two early American warships which fought in the first naval battle of the Civil War. Both were ironclad ships and first-generation technology.
The Options are Endless
Experts predict significant technological changes in the months ahead with protection for tires, a current weak-spot, up-armoring, and blast pads for mines and IEDs amongst others. Existing vehicles already feature essentials like firing ports, gun turrets, and bullet resistant glass.
Mexican Army specialists however are unfazed. The machines, they say, are sluggish and unmaneuverable, making them soft targets and no match for modern military vehicles. They are more to intimidate rivals, they maintain. Assault vehicles have confronted the Mexican military in the past and have been disabled by shooting out the tires. But tire technology is evolving and with run-flat tires, this would not have worked.
The Real Death Race
But most Mexicans pale at the sight of these elephantine monsters in photographs taken by the military. Curious though they are, they are a stark reminder that there are no place as perilous as Mexican roads in the battle against organized crime. They resemble something out of the movie Death Race.
Fighting has been particularly vicious in border towns and cities in Tamaulipas, a northern state, where many of these improvised armoring factories are located. Only recently two dump trucks in the area were found and being used, modified to protect gunmen with steel plates. Cartels appear to be in an arms race with each other in technological innovations.
A Company that Sets the Bar High
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is a vehicle armoring company which has supplied many armored vehicles. Ultra Armoring has been in the vehicle armoring business for over two decades.
The Threats are Real
Armoring a vehicle is a complex, multi-layered process. At Ultra Armoring the team first studies the need and challenges prevalent in that part of the globe where the vehicle will operate. Design and selection of armoring materials are determined by the kind of projectiles and ballistics is might be called upon to resist.
Multiple Threats
Armored vehicles operating in many flashpoints in the Middle and Near East for example, will have the highest level of armoring. Cars and SUVs which operate in places like Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will be armored to resist high-velocity, high-caliber bullets, and also designed for blast resistance. The threat in such countries takes many more dangerous forms than mere high-velocity automatic rifles.
Fire Proof
The incidence of roadside bombs is frequent, as are car bombs which are detonated when vehicles, earmarked for destruction, drive past. Roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used with disastrous consequences, and almost monotonous regularity. Another new form of terrorism is the magnetic bomb triggered either through a timer, a remote mechanism like a cell phone. This is becoming increasingly popular since it is easy to attach one to a vehicle while on the road. Invariably such devices, apart from an explosive action set the vehicle on fire, another threat which has to be catered for.
What is the Main Threat(s)?
When a client decides on a particular type of vehicle, the level and type of threat is determined in consultation with Ultra Armoring. This provides the R&D department a standard to which to work to. Material selection is made compatible with the perceived threat which also governs the thickness of glass to be used.
No Second Chances
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is one of the industry leaders in armored passenger vehicles. The company is meticulous about every stage of modification, acutely aware that even the slightest oversight can be disastrous in a firefight or a bomb blast.
DIY Armored Trucks – A Uniquely Mexican Innovation
The DIY armored vehicle is a uniquely Mexican product which no drug cartel worth its name would be without. For the cartel boss who has everything this is one more must-have in his fleet. But what do you call these behemoths of the road – Narco tanks, Rhino trucks? There’s no agreement on what to call these monster armored vehicles being put together by drug cartels of late. But one thing is definite; there are more of them on Mexican roads and many more under construction.
Setting up Shop
Authorities found the first armored vehicle – almost a prototype on field trials – in the aftermath of a battle in April of 2011 between two drug gangs, the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel. And since, the Mexican Defense Department has reported finding many more of these road warhorses on the roads and in various stages of construction in metalworking shops across drug country.
A Small Force
Experts who examined these vehicles were impressed with their size and innovation. What are rolling out of these makeshift factories are bigger than they’ve ever been before. And they carry formidable armor plate of inch-thick steel strong enough to resist fire from a 50-caliber weapon. The insulated cabin can accommodate 20 armed men, with the whole assembly mounted on a triple-axle truck bed.
Old Memories
One drug policy expert from the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, a research group, said they were reminiscent of the Merrimack and Monitor, two early American warships which fought in the first naval battle of the Civil War. Both were ironclad ships and first-generation technology.
The Options are Endless
Experts predict significant technological changes in the months ahead with protection for tires, a current weak-spot, up-armoring, and blast pads for mines and IEDs amongst others. Existing vehicles already feature essentials like firing ports, gun turrets, and bullet resistant glass.
Mexican Army specialists however are unfazed. The machines, they say, are sluggish and unmaneuverable, making them soft targets and no match for modern military vehicles. They are more to intimidate rivals, they maintain. Assault vehicles have confronted the Mexican military in the past and have been disabled by shooting out the tires. But tire technology is evolving and with run-flat tires, this would not have worked.
The Real Death Race
But most Mexicans pale at the sight of these elephantine monsters in photographs taken by the military. Curious though they are, they are a stark reminder that there are no place as perilous as Mexican roads in the battle against organized crime. They resemble something out of the movie Death Race.
Fighting has been particularly vicious in border towns and cities in Tamaulipas, a northern state, where many of these improvised armoring factories are located. Only recently two dump trucks in the area were found and being used, modified to protect gunmen with steel plates. Cartels appear to be in an arms race with each other in technological innovations.
A Company that Sets the Bar High
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is a vehicle armoring company which has supplied many armored vehicles. Ultra Armoring has been in the vehicle armoring business for over two decades.
The Threats are Real
Armoring a vehicle is a complex, multi-layered process. At Ultra Armoring the team first studies the need and challenges prevalent in that part of the globe where the vehicle will operate. Design and selection of armoring materials are determined by the kind of projectiles and ballistics is might be called upon to resist.
Multiple Threats
Armored vehicles operating in many flashpoints in the Middle and Near East for example, will have the highest level of armoring. Cars and SUVs which operate in places like Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will be armored to resist high-velocity, high-caliber bullets, and also designed for blast resistance. The threat in such countries takes many more dangerous forms than mere high-velocity automatic rifles.
Fire Proof
The incidence of roadside bombs is frequent, as are car bombs which are detonated when vehicles, earmarked for destruction, drive past. Roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used with disastrous consequences, and almost monotonous regularity. Another new form of terrorism is the magnetic bomb triggered either through a timer, a remote mechanism like a cell phone. This is becoming increasingly popular since it is easy to attach one to a vehicle while on the road. Invariably such devices, apart from an explosive action set the vehicle on fire, another threat which has to be catered for.
What is the Main Threat(s)?
When a client decides on a particular type of vehicle, the level and type of threat is determined in consultation with Ultra Armoring. This provides the R&D department a standard to which to work to. Material selection is made compatible with the perceived threat which also governs the thickness of glass to be used.
No Second Chances
Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC is one of the industry leaders in armored passenger vehicles. The company is meticulous about every stage of modification, acutely aware that even the slightest oversight can be disastrous in a firefight or a bomb blast.
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NEWS
Ultra Armoring announces new president
http://www.shelbystar.com/news/local/manufacturer-announces-new-president-1.31115Pirates on the highways: Cargo theft costing nation billions
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/05/13132047-pirates-on-the-highways-cargo-theft-costing-nation-billions?lite>1=43001Bourque Industries releases third-party testing validation
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/31/4678008/bourque-industries-releases-third.htmlUltra Armoring wins $45M contract
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2011/08/24/shelby-firm-wins-45m-contract.htmlUltra Armoring Awarded Defense Contract from USSOCOM
http://www.securityclearancenews.com/defense/ultra-armoring-awarded-defense-contract-from-ussocom/
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VIDEOS
UNC TV - Ultra Armoring Interview
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Our experience in dealing with the nuances of unique
armor components as required by the U.S. Military has honed
our skills and positioned Ultra as the complete armoring
source.
VEHICLE INTERIOR DISASSEMBLY: Prior to armor
design, our skilled technicians carefully remove the entire
vehicle interior. All parts are then inventoried and stored
in a coded, on-site secure, dust-free compartment.
DESIGN & MEASURING: Using
state-of-the-art technology, our technicians replicate the
vehicle interior. A highly precise FARO arm develops an exact
digital blueprint of each shape, panel and bend.
CAD DRAWING: As part of Ultra's rigorous
routine of measurement and design, digital data is
transferred to our expert staff of CAD designers. Custom
armor patterns are then digitally built into a 3D model.
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Ultra Armoring's experience and technology
set us apart from other armorers. Our ongoing
commitment to research and development
works to produce the best-armored
vehicle on the market.
set us apart from other armorers. Our ongoing
commitment to research and development
works to produce the best-armored
vehicle on the market.
TRACEABILITY:
All materials are certified, batch-tested and completely traceable. To verify and ensure the integrity of our product, we can trace any part used in armoring any vehicle back to the heat lot and plate number.
All materials are certified, batch-tested and completely traceable. To verify and ensure the integrity of our product, we can trace any part used in armoring any vehicle back to the heat lot and plate number.
BENDING: Ultra's 2,000-ton press brake can
form steel up to 40 feet in length.
CUTTING: Our top-of-the line laser cutters can produce parts of all shapes, sizes and thicknesses with tight tolerances.
CUTTING: Our top-of-the line laser cutters can produce parts of all shapes, sizes and thicknesses with tight tolerances.
WELDING:
Our crew of highly trained welders can
expertly produce top-quality welds that
meet or exceed all applicable codes.
Our crew of highly trained welders can
expertly produce top-quality welds that
meet or exceed all applicable codes.
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Ultra's large-format laser cutters allow
for larger
core panels with less welded components.
core panels with less welded components.
LASER CUTTING & PLATE
FINISHING:
Every piece of armor is precisely cut on a state-of-the-art
CNC-operated Tanaka laser cutting station. This keeps part
dimensions accurate and tolerances tight between armor
plates, allowing for better protection.
Every piece of armor is precisely cut on a state-of-the-art
CNC-operated Tanaka laser cutting station. This keeps part
dimensions accurate and tolerances tight between armor
plates, allowing for better protection.
SINGLE-PIECE SIDEWALL
TECHNOLOGY:
To reduce weld joints that can weaken armor, Ultra
has developed proprietary technology which allows
the use of just one piece of armor to cover the entire
side of a vehicle.
To reduce weld joints that can weaken armor, Ultra
has developed proprietary technology which allows
the use of just one piece of armor to cover the entire
side of a vehicle.
COMPLETE ARMOR CAPSULE:
Using technology developed
for Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected (MRAP) and other
heavy armor combat programs,
Ultra has pioneered the
"box within a box" protection
system of the Complete
Armor Capsule.
Using technology developed
for Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected (MRAP) and other
heavy armor combat programs,
Ultra has pioneered the
"box within a box" protection
system of the Complete
Armor Capsule.
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Just as important as quality armoring is a vehicle
equipped to perform optimally in any situation.
RUNFLAT DEVICES:
Ultra's armored vehicles come equipped with either Rodgard OEM runflat inserts or Hutchinson Mil-Spec certified blast wheels with VFI runflat devices.
BRAKE KIT:
To compensate for the extra weight added by the armor, we install an exclusive six-piston big brake kit designed specifically for Ultra's vehicles by Performance Friction Corporation.
Ultra's armored vehicles come equipped with either Rodgard OEM runflat inserts or Hutchinson Mil-Spec certified blast wheels with VFI runflat devices.
BRAKE KIT:
To compensate for the extra weight added by the armor, we install an exclusive six-piston big brake kit designed specifically for Ultra's vehicles by Performance Friction Corporation.
INTERIOR:
Meticulous design and planning allows the interior of Ultra's armored vehicles to fit in ways other armorers can't dupli- cate. With exact match materials pro- vided by original equipment manufactur- ers (OEM), the interface between armor and vehicle is seamless.
Meticulous design and planning allows the interior of Ultra's armored vehicles to fit in ways other armorers can't dupli- cate. With exact match materials pro- vided by original equipment manufactur- ers (OEM), the interface between armor and vehicle is seamless.
HINGES:
Ultra Armoring has designed a high-strength steel hinge for all doors to support added weight, eliminate sagging and the need for ramp guides.
FUEL CELL:
Ultra replaces the standard fuel tank with a SAFETANK protected fuel tank. The SAFETANK is self-sealing, effectively sealing wounds from rifle rounds and shrapnel from IED, mine or RPG blast events, preventing fire and explosion from leaking fuel, and assuring the vehicle maintains drivability.
Ultra Armoring has designed a high-strength steel hinge for all doors to support added weight, eliminate sagging and the need for ramp guides.
FUEL CELL:
Ultra replaces the standard fuel tank with a SAFETANK protected fuel tank. The SAFETANK is self-sealing, effectively sealing wounds from rifle rounds and shrapnel from IED, mine or RPG blast events, preventing fire and explosion from leaking fuel, and assuring the vehicle maintains drivability.
SUSPENSION:
Ultra integrates an upgraded vehicle suspension system that is purpose built, test validated and field proven. Working with industry leaders in vehicle ride control allows us to provide our customers with an accurate sense of confidence while maximizing vehicle life cycle through focused upgrades.
Ultra integrates an upgraded vehicle suspension system that is purpose built, test validated and field proven. Working with industry leaders in vehicle ride control allows us to provide our customers with an accurate sense of confidence while maximizing vehicle life cycle through focused upgrades.
