Armormax is currently developing protection for the Land Rover Defender to make it resistant to small-arms fire.
The Joburg-based company has spent the last 18 months developing its armoured solutions for several of the new luxury models that have hit the market recently.
A few examples of this include the electric Jagauar I-Pace, the VW Golf GTI, and even the next-generation Ford Ranger.
More recently, it has once again turned its attention to the Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) stable, as it has begun work on the Land Rover Defender in all three of its chassis forms – the 90, 110, and 130.
The pricing for each of these packages, including VAT, are as follows:
- Land Rover Defender B4 protection – R782,000
- Land Rover Defender B6 protection – R1,728,000
This is on top of the cost of the vehicle, which retails from R1,363,200.
It takes approximately 15 to 20 days to produce a B4-grade Defender, while the B6 requires 55 to 60 days. The process is approved by Jaguar Land Rover so it does not affect the buyer’s warranty and maintenance plan, said Armormax.
The armouring process
Armormax is in fact the only armouring company approved by JLR South Africa, and its first units of the new bullet-resistant Defender are expected to make their official debut in the coming weeks.
“The Defender has proven to be a popular product amongst SUV owners, and its dimensions and layout have lent itself well to an armouring conversion,” said the company.
The high-end vehicle is available with two armour levels – B4 and B6 – which denote the level of protection afforded. The B4 grade is designed to hold up against handgun fire up to a .44 Magnum calibre round, while the B6 can withstand assault rifle fire.
The B4 level replaces the windows with ballistic glass, reinforces the doors, body panels, pillars and roof with lightweight synthetic armour, and replaces the standard tyres with run-flat wheels.
The B6 grade adds to this by armouring the floor, encasing crucial components like the battery in synthetic protection, reinforcing the front fenders with ballistic steel, and covering the fuel cell with an Armorcote self-sealing treatment.
