Comprising three videos, the new “Toughness” series shows a Toyota Hilux double-cab bakkie fitted with the popular SVI Stopgun V2.0 kit being subjected to a string of rigorous assessments, including a full ballistic onslaught, a riot-style attack and a punishing drop test.

“Over eight generations and more than half a century, the Toyota Hilux has built up a legendary reputation as one of the toughest bakkies out there. Fitting our B6 Stopgun V2.0 armouring kit, however, pushes its toughness into a whole new realm, which is clearly demonstrated in this series of videos,” said SVI Business Development Director, Nicol Louw.

TEST 1: EXTREME BALLISTIC ATTACK

The first test facing the SVI Hilux B6 Stopgun V2.0 test mule? Nothing short of a full ballistic onslaught via 9 mm, DM5 and AK47. In unison, SVI’s weapons handlers fired multiple rounds into the converted bakkie’s body and glass. Once the dust had settled, a thorough examination of the vehicle confirmed that zero penetration had occurred.

“There’s a reason our Stopgun V2.0 kit is so popular with South Africa’s security industry, where it saves lives on virtually a weekly basis. In the field, this solution has proven its worth time and time again, seeing it become the default choice among local security companies,” said Louw.

Watch Part 1 HERE!

TEST 2: PUNISHING RIOT-STYLE ATTACK

Almost immediately after withstanding a ballistic assault, the SVI Hilux B6 Stopgun V2.0 was confronted with a riot-style attack. Armed with a wide range of impact weapons typically encountered during violent civil disorder, the SVI team went to work on the Hilux.

Despite its battle scars from the ballistic test, the converted bakkie resolutely withstood impacts from weapons that included rocks, a hammer, a crowbar and even a pick-axe. Despite their best efforts, the team simply could not gain entry to the cabin.

Watch Part 2 HERE!

TEST 3: DRAMATIC INVERTED DROP

What else could the SVI Hilux B6 Stopgun V2.0 possibly endure? Well, what about being dropped onto its roof? After being inverted, hooked it up to a crane and raised two metres clear off the ground, the B6-armoured bakkie faced its final daunting challenge: surviving a drop onto a solid concrete surface.

And that’s exactly what it did. In a clear illustration of the B6 Stopgun V2.0 package’s built-in roll-over protection – courtesy of the armoured steel structure that effectively surrounds the cabin – the bakkie’s roof suffered very little deformation, despite bearing the full weight of the vehicle in the fall. This came as no surprise to the team considering the SVI Hilux B6 Stopgun V2.0 long ago passed an independent rollover test.

Watch Part 3 HERE!

THE TOUGHEST HILUX YET?

“The SVI B6 Stopgun V2.0 Hilux handled absolutely everything we could throw at it. In the end, it passed all three of our gruelling tests with flying colours. Is this the toughest version of the already resilient Hilux? We certainly think so.

“So, if your security company is running unarmoured bakkies in its crime-fighting fleet, we believe you’re taking an unnecessary risk. The solution is the SVI Stopgun V2.0 kit – cost effective, field proven and now tested to the absolute max,” concluded Louw.

SVI HILUX B6 STOPGUN V2.0

SVI’s B6 Stopgun V2.0 package for the Toyota Hilux serves as the preferred choice in South Africa’s broader security industry. It provides local security forces with a cost-effective B6 armouring solution – providing protection against assault rifles (including AK47, R1 and R5) – to combat general crime, escort valuables in transit or use for mining patrols.

The Stopgun V2.0 kit features unobtrusive integrated door armour and flat 38 mm armoured glass bolted into each window frame (the latter allows for fuss-free replacement should damage be sustained during an attack). In addition, the roof, front fenders, all pillars and part of the firewall gain B6 bullet-resistant protection courtesy of custom-fabricated armoured steel plates, as do critical under-bonnet components such as the battery and ABS unit.

Thanks to SVI’s status as an authorised converter in Toyota’s commercial-vehicle partner programme, the Stopgun V2.0 armouring package for specific versions of the Hilux Single Cab is fully approved by the Japanese automaker and is thus available to order directly from any of Toyota’s 200-plus dealerships countrywide.

COST AND BUILD TIME

The B6 Stopgun V2.0 armouring solution for the Toyota Hilux is available for all three body styles, with installation taking just three weeks. The prices below include a front suspension upgrade, gunports, window tinting and interior carpeting of the cab armour. Options include a more discreet curved windscreen, a bullbar-and-ballistic-grille combo and “Flats Over” heavy-duty runflat rings.

• Hilux Single Cab Stopgun V2.0 cabin armour – R303,729*
• Hilux Xtra Cab Stopgun V2.0 cabin armour – R351,346*
• Hilux Double Cab Stopgun V2.0 cabin armour – R434,322*

*figures exclude VAT and the purchase price of the base vehicle

The post The SVI Hilux ‘toughness’ series: Armoured bakkie put to the test! appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The original single cab version of the LSV was launched at the 2023 edition of Securex two years ago. It features a cab armoured to B6 level, which provides protection against assault rifles, including the AK-47 (7.62×39 mm), R5 (5.56×45 mm) and R1 (7.52×51 mm). The Mahindra Pik Up-based vehicle is one of the most cost effective ballistic protected patrol vehicles on the market, costing less than R1 million for the base model. Available in 2×4 or 4×4 configuration, the vehicle is ideally suited for patrolling and guarding operations.

The double cab LSV was officially launched on Wednesday 4 June, at the offices of a private security contractor – its launch customer. It is powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engine driving a six-speed automatic transmission. GVM is 3 450 kg.

Nadine Rynners, Integrated Convoy Protection CEO, said there has been a lot of interest in the LSV from the African market, especially as there is a trend towards smaller, lighter vehicles. Feedback from single cab users has been excellent, she added, but believes there is a bigger requirement for a double cab as it can be used for example by canine units, or to carry extra equipment.

At Securex 2025, ICP REVA also displayed its next-generation REVA Super Bulk high value security vehicle and UD-based Retail cash in transit vehicle. Since they were launched two years ago, they have been significantly upgraded: the Super Bulk carrier is larger and offers unrivalled overmatch protection against both ballistic and blast threats, while the Retail version is available with a new drivetrain, increasing engine power by 50%.

The REVA Super Bulk CIT vehicle features a full STANAG Level 1 (kinetic energy) protected armoured body with a low centre of gravity. With a GVM just below 16 tons, it is fitted with next-generation blast-tested safes, increasing blast protection. The protected payload has been increased by a third. It is powered by a Cummins 5.9 litre diesel engine developing 230 hp, driving a six-speed Allison 2500P automatic transmission.

The Retail CIT vehicle is powered by a 5.1 litre UD diesel engine providing 210 hp and paired with a six-speed Allison 2500P automatic transmission. This vehicle also provides STANAG Level 1 protection at a GVM of 9 tons.

The Super Bulk and Retail CIT vehicles at Securex 2025 were both in Fidelity colours as the security company is the launch customer. Rynners said Fidelity is “very satisfied” with the vehicles.

Drawing on its extensive military experience countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and manufacturing military vehicles, Integrated Convoy Protection has also developed blast resistant safes, which are developed specifically for the cash in transit industry to protect against bombings. The safes have undergone several rounds of blast testing by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and have successfully withstood several CIT bombings in operation over the past year and half.

The safe range has been expanded and at this year’s Securex ICP launched a new range of Kaboom custom-built safes, which comply to SANAS (South African National Accreditation System). These can be built to customer specifications or on standard specifications and have attracted a lot of interest, especially from security companies and gun shop owners, Rynners said.

Also showcased for the security industry at Securex was the REVA Security vehicle, based on the REVA III armoured personnel carrier (APC). Rynners said many have been sold in South Africa, particularly to security companies providing protection services to mining companies. At the show, the vehicle was fitted with a gunshot detection system, rapid response drones, and a command and control centre supplied by local company Risk Diversion, which offers digital forensics and other services.

ICP REVA is pushing hard into the growing commercial security vehicle market, and has a 50:50 spread between civil and military sectors. “There has been very good growth in South Africa,” Rynners said. “The local security market has exploded and we are very fortunate to have gotten involved in that.”

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Marketing Manager Michael Broom says, “It came time a few months ago to build a new demonstration model, and we had a tough time choosing which vehicle to develop next in a market that is filled with so much choice. We had seen the Prado at the Nampo show two months earlier and were blown away by the design, the space and functionality of the new light-duty off-roader. A quick look into the launch sales figures convinced us that this was the way to go. With waiting lists stretching into 2026, it almost didn’t happen but thanks to our friends at Toyota, we found a unit.”

The Prado has a loyal customer base in South Africa and has in recent years had its segment raided by a number of newcomers hoping to steal its place on the perch. The 5th generation Prado is a revelation in terms of what it offers for what it costs, especially when compared to what is on offer from the traditional premium manufacturers in this segment. The new 2.8 litre diesel powerplant matched to an all-new 8 speed automatic transmission is more than competent to haul 7 people plus the horse box, trailer or boat you’re pulling behind you. With the B4 armouring package fitted to the Armormax demo vehicle, it barely feels the additional 187 kg added by the lightweight armour, Armormax said.

“The Prado is built on the same GA-F platform as the Land Cruiser 300 Series of which we have now armoured 21 examples since it’s local introduction. So in terms of product development, much of the car was quite familiar to us. Typically the development of a new product can take up to 6 months – the Prado took 7 weeks from start to finish” adds Broom. “We are more than satisfied that the fit and finish of the completed vehicle meets the high standards that Armormax has set in the past for discreet, lightweight and unintrusive armour”.

The B4 package offers protection against handguns up to a .44 Magnum. All doors, panels, pillars and any other exposed area have been armoured with a lightweight ballistic composite providing an impenetrable barrier between occupants and would-be attackers. All windows have been replaced with OEM-matching 21 mm ballistic glass. Included in the package is the armouring of the roof, run-flat bands and a push-to-talk intercom system. With an added weight of just 187 kg, there is no noticeable effect on performance or dynamics, particularly off-road. The cost of the package fitted to the Prado is R754 000 excluding VAT. This includes a 36 month warranty on the armouring components and workmanship.

Broom concludes “we have no doubt the Prado is going to be a popular model amongst armoured vehicle owners. It offers so much for comparably less than you expect, and this 5th generation version is filled with features and modern tech to appeal to a much wider audience than it traditionally did. We love driving it and plan on taking it on tour in South Africa next year to show it to Toyota dealers and potential customers around the country”.

The post The Prado that turns heads and stops bullets appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The company’s more than 25 bullet-resistant vehicles are each equipped with a protection package from sister company SVI Engineering. Available protection ratings include B4 discreet (handguns), B4+ discreet (handguns and AK-47) and B6 (assault rifles, including AK-47, R1 and R5), with the latter level offered in both semi-discreet (aimed specifically at the security industry) and fully concealed forms. Additionally, SVI Secure offers armoured guardhouse units for rent.

SVI said the rental fleet includes a broad selection of discreetly armoured VIP vehicles, suited to private individuals, such as B6-armoured versions of proven ladder-frame SUVs such as Toyota’s Fortuner, Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200, along with a B4-armoured Mercedes-Benz V-Class.

There’s also a Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI, which features SVI’s bespoke AK-47-resistant B4+ package, as launched earlier in 2024. This armoured hot hatch is furthermore deployable as a rapid-response vehicle. Meanwhile, the trusty Toyota Hilux is a staple in the rental fleet, particularly when it comes to meeting the needs of security firms.

Options here include both single- and double-cab versions of the Hilux bakkie, most of which are fitted with SVI’s field-proven B6 Stopgun V2.0 package. A single-cab Hilux additionally equipped with an armoured personnel carrier (APC) canopy is also available, with this fully homologated solution providing B4+ protection for an extra five crew members.

The SVI MAX 3 Troopy – a multi-role 8-seater armoured personnel carrier (APC) based on Toyota’s Land Cruiser 79 chassis and offering B6 protection thanks to its bespoke hull – is likewise available to security firms for hire, as is a UD Kuzer RKE 150 truck that incorporates SVI’s factory-backed full armoured cab replacement.

“Thanks to our extensive fleet of armoured vehicles, we cover a broad range of client requirements, from the safeguarding of valuables-in-transit to riot control and, of course, VIP transport. On the latter point, in partnership with our trusted associates in the close-protection field, we’re also able to offer our executive clients highly experienced security details,” said Cobus de Kock, SVI Secure Director.

Officially established in 2019, SVI Secure has regional hubs in Gauteng and the Western Cape as well as KwaZulu-Natal, with a newly opened office in uMhlanga. The company’s armoured vehicles are available to rent right across South Africa and even in select neighbouring countries. Both short- and long-term rental options are available, the company said.

In order to ensure SVI Secure’s armoured vehicles are not used for nefarious activities, all new clients go through a standard vetting process and are thus required to meet certain criteria before any rental agreement can take effect, the company added.

Though exact rental costs depend on the model derivative (and the duration of the rental period), vehicles can generally be rented from R5 000 to R20 000 per day.

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The mid-August tender specified that the vehicle should have an ergo-metric internal height of minimum 1.8 m, not exceeding 2 m.

The vehicle shell must be a monohull and be powered by an engine with a minimum displacement of 6.5 litres and minimum output of 240 hp. The gearbox must be fully automatic 6-speed. Further, power steering, permanent 4×4 mobility and a top speed of 120 km/h is specified, with fuel capacity to allow for minimum 600 km range.

The vehicle must be able to give ballistic protection against AK-47 rifles (7.62×39 mm FMJ at 10 m) and be upgradable to STANAG Level 1 on all vertical sides. Euro norm standard B6, protecting the vehicle 360 degrees, with the roof and floor able to withstand 7.62×39 mm at an angle of 30 degrees from horizontal is required. Alternatively, equivalent levels such as BR-6 and US NIJ III Plus for vehicles for the Middle East and Europe need to be met.

The vehicle’s structure should be designed to prevent shrapnel and blasts from anti-personal munitions on the roof and underfloor. Resistance to grenade explosions at close range is required, however the document notes the vehicles do not need to be resistant to artillery shells, anti-tank mines or rockets. Additionally, provision for add-on armour to increase protection is required.

Two emergency escape hatches must be provided, one above the commander’s seat, the other at the rear of the vehicle. These hatches must allow personnel to exit with their equipment and be manually lockable from the inside. Further, the roof should be reinforced. A large window must be provided to allow for situational awareness and should have the same level of protection as the vehicle body. Gun ports must be installed, with a minimum of 4 per side, one in front of the commander’s seat, and an additional gun port in the rear.

Seating layout should include two front seats, with eight outward facing seats in the middle, with a rear area including multipurpose layout to allow for cargo storage or two additional seats. The vehicle should include two front doors, two side doors and a rear door. All doors must be internally lockable, to prevent outside access. Driver should be able to lock all doors at once from driver’s seat. Driver, Commander and crew doors must be hydraulically or pneumatically operable in case of emergency.

Two unique requirements for the vehicle include a camera system, and a bulbar/scraper. An on-board camera system with recording storage for 24 hours must be installed, with a minimum of four externally mounted on all four sides and covered with mesh type protection. As for the scraper, it must be capable of lowering and raising from the driver’s position, presumably using a switch. The scraper must be able to move obstructions from the vehicle’s path. A “V” shaped dozer/bullbar must be easily removeable in case of damage, to ensure mobility. The dozer must be capable of moving a 3-ton obstacle.

The vehicle must be supplied with a Mobile Adjustable Rescue/Assault System (MARS), which must be mounted on the vehicle’s roof, and allow for two personnel to access structures at a minimum of 8 metres in height, with the tender listing the height of an Airbus A380 top door as a minimum reachable point.

Further, there must be a camera mounted to the front of the breaching platform, with a display mounted close to the driver to enable precise positioning of the vehicle and the MARS.

The bid stated that quantities cannot be guaranteed and order/s will be placed as and when required. The contract period will be for two years.

While the bid window closed on 02 October 2024, several vehicles displayed at the recent Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in September met these requirements and could be potential bidders. Notably, the SVI Max SWAT, and Paramount’s Maverick.

The post SAPS looking for a new APC appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The MAX SWAT is a sibling to the company’s popular MAX 3 range of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and the MAX 9 military vehicle.

“From the outset of our rigorous design and engineering process, we knew a high level of adaptability was key for the SVI MAX SWAT – and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved. This new APC’s versatility means it’s well suited to various sectors, from police and correctional services to private security and indeed military. Therefore, AAD 2024 was the perfect place for us to reveal it,” said Jaco de Kock, CEO of SVI.

The new SVI MAX SWAT has been designed for a wide range of roles, including border patrol, public-order maintenance, command & control, and tactical surveillance, as well as special weapons & tactics (SWAT) and mobile assault & reconnaissance system (MARS) operations.

Providing a minimum protection level of EN1063 BR6 (assault rifles, including AK47, R1 and R5), the MAX SWAT employs a custom-fabricated armoured monocoque hull (bolted to a ladder-frame chassis) and armoured glass windows, with the latter strategically positioned to maximise situational awareness. The substantial side doors, meanwhile, allow for rapid ingress and egress, providing a distinct tactical advantage during high-risk operations, SVI said.

The 12-seater MAX SWAT can carry a payload of more than 2 tonnes. It can be fitted with an optional auxiliary power unit (APU) capable of independently running the air-conditioning system as well as any specialised systems (such as ground radars and long-range cameras) that the client may wish to include. These can be accommodated in two cargo bay areas at the rear corners of the vehicle. At AAD 2024, one bay was fitted with a Honda generator, and another a Hensoldt South Africa Bushbaby 100 optronic mast.

“Since reliability and ease of maintenance are particularly crucial factors for vehicles tasked with transporting personnel and equipment in high-risk areas, SVI opted to use a well-proven powertrain from Japanese automotive giant Isuzu. As such, the MAX SWAT employs the 7.8-litre, inline-six turbodiesel engine (6HK1-TCN) familiar from Isuzu’s range of medium-duty trucks,” the company said.

Generating peak outputs of 176 kW and 706 Nm, this six-cylinder motor drives all four wheels as standard. SVI upgraded the drivetrain to include a six-speed Allison 2500 Series automatic transmission in place of the otherwise-standard manual gearbox.

“The use of this field-proven Isuzu 4×4 powertrain, along with tough Isuzu axles and suspension components, plus various commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, serves to not only ensure reliability and simplify maintenance but also to boost operational efficiency and thus reduce total lifecycle costs. In fact, routine servicing can be performed at any Isuzu dealership across South Africa or in neighbouring African countries,” SVI said.

The SVI MAX SWAT has a build time of three months and is priced from R4.4 million. It comes standard with SVI’s innovative anti-riot scraper – which looks like a regular bumper until it is deployed – as well as anti-riot screen guards. In addition to the APU, available options include heavy-duty runflat rings, shot-detection and -location systems, medical equipment, and mast-mounted camera.

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