- High-speed imaging shows impact in slow motion
- First series comprises as many as 14 episodes
SVI Engineering, leading specialist manufacturer of armoured products, has released the second episode in its innovative Shoot Through series of videos, this time investigating whether a Volkswagen Polo engine block is able to stop a round fired from an AK47 (watch Episode 2 here).
“When it comes to gunfire, it’s sometimes said one of the only reliable areas of cover on a standard vehicle is directly behind the engine block. So, is this an accurate claim? While it depends on exactly where the sample is hit, we decided to carry out our own test, securing a VW Polo engine block at end of our underground shooting range, mounting an AK47 in our test rig and pulling the trigger,” said Jaco de Kock, CEO of SVI.
As captured by a Photron Fastcam SA4 high-speed camera (set at 30 000 frames per second), which was kindly supplied by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the 7.62×39 mm conventional steel-core round penetrated the outer casing of the four-cylinder engine block but did not emerge from the other side.
“While an engine block may well be capable of stopping an AK47 round, it provides only limited cover at best. In contrast, our 360-degree level B6 armouring packages have been meticulously engineered to minimise ballistic gaps, offering vehicle occupants the ultimate level of protection,” added Nicol Louw, SVI Business Development Director.
‘SHOOT THROUGH’ SERIES BACKGROUND
Conceived to both inform and entertain, the full Shoot Through video series – one episode will be published on SVI’s YouTube channel approximately every two weeks – sets out to answer whether various (mostly standard) automotive components can stop a round discharged by a firearm.
The subject of the first episode in SVI’s Shoot Through series was a ventilated steel brake disc from a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 bakkie. If you missed the debut video, you can watch Episode 1 here.
THE COMPANY
SVI is an original equipment manufacturer that has specialised in armoured vehicles since 2004. The company is a market leader in Africa, serving the private, corporate, security, mining and governmental segments. SVI holds a Level 2 B-BBEE certification and its quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015 by TÜV Rheinland.
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