Buying techniques for acquiring best armored vehicle?

Introduction

The buying of armored  vehicles is a very critical activity from the customer’s perspective as it involves lives of human beings. For the manufacturer, vehicle armoring involves protecting human lives on one hand and protecting own brand on the other. In this article we would be covering various techniques and aspects of armoring that the buyer must critically consider while making the decision of purchasing an armored vehicle. Most common questions that a buyer must ask himself before making the decision of buying an armored vehicles are as under:

• Which type of armored vehicle is best suited for my requirement?
• What are the types of companies I should be looking for purchasing an armored vehicle?
• What factors should be considered while purchasing an armored vehicle?
• What are the type of materials used in vehicle armoring?

All the above  question are very important, getting answers of these questions is very important, if  clarity is required it is always better to involve in a discussion with your vehicle supplier. For the benefit of our readers we will answer all the above questions.

Which type of armored vehicle is best suited for my requirement?

The answer to this questions can be best found by analyzing the type of armored vehicles that are available in the market today. Broadly all the armored vehicles are classified into two categories:

1. Offensive armored vehicle.
2. Defensive armored vehicle.

If your requirement is of carrying troops in hostile areas where they are required to intervene in military operations, it is advisable to opt for offensive armored vehicles, which range from Main battle tanks of Gross 50 Tons of weight to light wheeled armored vehicle of Gross 5 Tons of weight. The selection of category primarily depends on the purpose of usage and degree of threat level that exists. Contrarily a defensive armored vehicle is primarily used for peaceful purpose. Such vehicles are generally used by diplomatic missions and humanitarian organizations. These vehicles are discreet looking as they merge with non armored vehicles in their looks.

What are the best companies manufacturing armored vehicles?

Generally any company which adheres to laid down guidelines for manufacturing armored vehicles is an ideal candidate however one must always look for the credibility by checking the past performance of the vehicles sold by the particular company. Here are the few questions one must always ask the company before deciding the finale candidate:

1. Is the material used in armoring of the vehicle certified by an accredited international agency?
2. Is the company certified as per international standards?
3. Is the manpower adequately trained to armor the vehicles?
4. Is the company having substantive years of experience?
5. Is the feedback of past customers positive?

Any of the above answers in negative must lead to rejection of the company from the list of probable candidates. It is always preferable to check the references in person either by call or by mail. Nothing must be left to mere words, all the words must be duly supported by documents.

What factors must be considered to ensure best armored vehicle is bought?

The answer to this question is fairly simple, choose the best company and this problem is ninety percent solved. While selecting the armored vehicle ensure that the platform ( OEM Vehicle) used in armoring of the vehicle is adequately supported in terms of spares and after sales service. This is the most important criteria while selecting the armored vehicle as a large number of such specialist vehicles go out of action due to unavailability of spares or service support. It is always advisable to choose a vehicle which is regularly selling in the market and has all the latest upgrades. If a customized platform is designed then the buyer must insist on minimum ten years of service and spares confirmation from the seller. It is always advisable to stock minimum five years of non perishable running spares  as necessary back up.

The second important criteria is checking the quality of material used in armoring the vehicle, the buyer must insist on certified and tested materials. All the necessary modifications and upgrades to the original  platform must be time tested and of good performance quality. Ensure to take a written commitment from the seller for the spare support of these modifications and upgrades as these components are unique and supplied by the seller only, it is advisable to keep a stock of few years of these critical spares if the budget permits.

What are the types of material used in vehicle armoring?

The materials used in armoring of the vehicles can be broadly classified into:

• Ballistic components.
• Non Ballistic components.

The ballistic components includes the metal  and ballistic glasses used to armor the vehicle. As a layman to ensure the quality of the material, insist on the certified testing certificates and cross verify that the same material is used in armoring. As an advanced checking technique, firing upon the samples of material use can be done if agreed by both buyer and the seller.

The non ballistic components can further be divided into:

• Mechanical.
• Non Mechanical.

All the mechanical upgrades must be of  recognised brand and must have performed well in the past, references from previous customers  can give a confirmation, the spares support of all the mechanical upgrades must be confirmed by the seller during the life span of the vehicle. The non mechanical upgrades like interior upholstery and external fitments can be checked and examined by personal physical inspection.

Conclusion

The technique of purchasing an armored vehicle is fairly simple if done in an organised way. If you have specific queries regarding your purchasing plans or you require any detailed information about preparing a bid document, you may leave your enquiry in our contact page, we will revert in the shortest possible time, our consultancy is free of charge.

The Indian Defence Industry have various armored platforms ranging from main battle tanks to light armored vehicles, if you want to recieve more details, you may contact us, we would get you connected with renowned brands whose products are time tested and are internationally accepted.