Over the years, we have seen many armored vehicle projects, each trying to capture the essence of delivering an enhanced level of protection in a highly compelling package. We ended up rightly impressed by many of them. Now, this new take on the “multi-role armored vehicle” niche might just have what it takes to blow our minds completely.
It’s simply called “STORM” and has been created by a company called Highland Systems. As far as we can tell, it’s a newly formed British/UAE outlet that “specializes in development and implementation of state-of-the-art technology into production,” namely in armored vehicles, stiletto systems (a type of ammunition), and sea-faring vessels.
So far, they have only presented a few models, with the Buggy Hunter MK-200 four-person multi-purpose tactical vehicle and the futuristic Trimaran mega-yacht (a hybrid vessel with submerging capabilities) chief among them.
At the recently concluded International Defense Exhibition & Conference that took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Highland Systems seemed to merge all of its efforts into just one set piece. It’s the aforementioned “STORM,” and this time we’re faced with a “multi-role armored vehicle.” In simpler terms, it’s a tracked contraption that can literally go anywhere.
And we’re not joking with the latter reference because this vehicle that’s designed to cater to both the military and civilian markets is “built for the harshest environments (and) offers ballistic, IED and mine blast protection.” More to the point, it will do all that while traveling on both hard terrain and water. If anyone doesn’t feel safe to accompany it, the company says the vehicle can also be configured with remote control systems, making it capable of autonomous operation.
Highland offers up to STANAG Level 2 protection for six persons inside the STORM, which is powered by a hybrid diesel-electric powertrain that’s capable of a maximum output of 2,500 horsepower. The powertrain enables respectable performance figures: 140 kph (87 mph) on land, 30 kph (19 mph) on water, and a running time of 18 to 36 hours in hybrid mode (four hours of continuous operation on water).
Unfortunately, no pricing information is available at this point – but one can only imagine this isn’t going to be very cheap, considering all the embedded technology and the touted performance and protection levels.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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