A Macneillie operations support vehicle in counter terror specification, complete with robots!
Standard police-specification cars and vans are a common sight throughout Europe, but I don’t think that I have ever seen many of these – an operations support vehicle in full counter-terror spec, complete with remote-control robots for defusing bombs and other hair-raising tasks.
Specialist converter MacNeillie is exhibiting the vehicle at the Counter Terror Expo, which takes place today and tomorrow at Olympia, in London.
It says that the van on display at Counter Terror is “configured for EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), IEDD (Improvised Explosive Device Disposal) and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)” and will shortly enter service with an undisclosed authority.
Apparently it is a similar specification to that which MacNeillie has recently supplied to a number of overseas markets, including the Middle East. Based on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis, MacNeillie says that the cab incorporates a number of normal civilian emergency services features, such as ballistic and non-ballistic protection, screen guards and headlight protection, full suite audible and visual warning systems and runflat tyres.
In the back, it’s a more unusual story. The unit can be configured in a number of ways to cater for most requirements, including tools and kit stowage, anchor points for specialist equipment and a deluge wash facility. Rear doors and associated ramp and lift options are offered, to accommodate equipment such as robots and UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) such as the two fellow pictured above.
Finally, since modern emergency operations rely on advanced communications and situational awareness, this unit is equipped with high resolution digital camera equipment for all-round visibility and carries a comprehensive inventory of communications equipment, capable of interfacing with scene, silver and gold command levels.
In addition to this more exotic equipment, MacNeillie also supply a wide range of police and ambulance vehicles to emergency services in the UK and abroad. They also do a rather impressive line of military, armoured and ‘discreet protection’ vehicles – armoured cars, to you and me.
This isn’t the first of MacNeillie’s conversions that we’ve featured on these pages – for some shots of another, rather different Sprinter conversion by the company, click here.
MacNeillie is an interesting and successful British company – and one that appears to have some vacancies at the moment. Visit www.macneillie.co.uk for more information.