Armox® armor steel for Casevac vehicle protection
October 24, 2024
5 min read
Case details
Even if you can’t recognize the actual steel, it will be in plain sight under a coat of paint on the Swedish Rescuers’ new Casevac (casualty evacuation) vehicle. Swedish Rescuers is a team of rescuers from across Sweden. The team includes paramedics, police and firefighters. Swedish Rescuers has been active for ten years and their work for helping people in war zones is based entirely on crowdfunding. Their motto is ‘No-one can do everything, but everyone can do something’.
Safer evacuation in high-risk zones
One of their latest projects is the commissioning of an armored Casevac vehicle, which was handed over to be operated by Ukrainian medics, for evacuating casualties from the frontlines in Ukraine.
“We have been customizing many vehicles that are used by defense forces. This particular Casevac vehicle is the first protected by armor steel, which is a great safety improvement for the people inside the vehicle,”
Armored by Armox® protection steel from SSAB
SSAB welcomes the decision by Swedish Rescuers to use Armox®. We supported them with steel recommendations and technical advice.
“Due to the complex threat both from artillery fragments and fine caliber rifle ammunition, Armox® 500T was chosen. It provides good protection against several types of threats even with thin gauges,” says Oscar Ivarsson, Key Account Manager Protection at SSAB.
High protection, low weight
It is critical to limit the added weight to maintain vehicle mobility and handling. The extra weight from the armoring was only around 220 kg, which is about 10% of the vehicle’s original weight.
See other examples of vehicle protection with Armox®Design and fabrication
The vehicles are based on the body and chassis of a Nissan Pathfinder. The Armox® plates used in the vehicle are processed and installed by students on the industrial program at Swedish high school Bromangymnasiet, with support from Swedish Rescuers and Armox® specialists from SSAB.
The school was provided with stock Armox® plates from SSAB and used their plasma cutter to cut them into shape and also cut holes and slits for handles and visibility. Bending was done in the school’s slightly modified press brake, at a several times greater force than needed for ordinary mild steel.
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