OVIK Special Vehicles, officially OVIK Solutions Ltd shortened to "OVIK" is a British company which designs and manufactures high mobility, armoured and specialist vehicles. Established in 2008, and based in Dorset, OVIK develops specialist vehicles for police, security, defence, humanitarian and emergency services.
OVIK is the parent company to STRIVE vehicles Ltd
Products edit
- PANGOLIN Armoured Public Order Vehicle
PANGOLIN is a specialist, armoured vehicle based upon a highly evolved, heavy duty Land Rover DEFENDER 110 chassis - with FORD PUMA 2.4 litre diesel engine and OVIK's own suspension system. PANGOLIN was designed specifically for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
In 2011 the decision was made to replace some of the current fleet of Tangis, due to the ongoing security threat and the age of the current fleet. In January 2011 The Police Service of Northern Ireland awarded a contract to OVIK Special Vehicles and within five months of the contract being awarded the PANGOLIN was designed, manufactured, and delivered. Between June and July 2011 the new PANGOLINs where delivered and are now in use with The Police Service of Northern Ireland. In April 2012 OVIK Special Vehicles was awarded a second contract to build 60 second generation PANGOLINs.
The Batch 2 (B 2) PANGOLINs were delivered to the PSNI on 27 June 2012 - the day the Queen famously shook hands with Martin McGuinness - the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and former IRA Chief of Staff. PANGOLIN B2 is a developed version of the B1 specification - utilising lessons identified from the B1 fleet to make improvements in weight, handling and performance.
In late 2012 Merseyside Police took delivery of three PANGOLINs from OVIK Special Vehicles.
Given the unofficial title 'PANGOLIN' - the name refers to a species of reclusive armoured ant-eater from South-East Asia; the name emanating from the CEO of OVIK group who has long established links with Borneo - one of the habitats of the creature. In an un-predicted twist - the new PANGOLINS soon took on the epithet PANGI... coined by PSNI officers... a nod to the Tangi forerunner.
- CAMELEON Modular Mission System
CAMELEON Modular Mission System
The CAMELEON IV440 is a four wheel drive modular mission system vehicle designed by Jez Hermer MBE - CEO of OVIK Special Vehicles and now manufactured under license by Charlton Ltd of Dover (part of the Thompson Group). Designed and developed in 2010, the CAMELEON IV440 is based upon the IVECO Daily 4x4 chassis but incorporates a number of modifications designed by OVIK plus a range of specialist mission modules which can be interchanged rapidly, giving the vehicle a multi-functional utility. The OVIK Group integrates a bespoke hydraulic load changer system and generally ruggedises the IVECO Daily 4x4 cab, adding roll suppressor, top hatch, light covers, winch and bull bars.
- PHOENIX Public Order Vehicle.
In the wake of the 2011 Summer riots in the UK and the success of the PANGOLIN Armoured Public Order Vehicles used in Northern Ireland, a number of British Police Forces approached OVIK Group to recycle former SNATCH Land Rovers into cost effective Public Order Vehicles. This led to the creation of the PHOENIX - B6+ Armoured Vehicle.
The refit takes up to 340 man hours to complete. This included full engine and transmission refurbishment, significant upgrades to all brakes, addition of full 'public order kit' which included hardening of all doors, wings and bonnet, external fire protection system and finally protected emergency lighting, siren and radio system installed. This vehicle is currently in service with Avon and Somerset police.
Some of the options available to customers depending on their budget and needs included:
- Impact resistant bonnet and wings.
- Armoured front radiator grille.
- Steel headlight and tail light protection.
- Front side and rear drop-down under-skirt.
- Heavy duty windscreen protection grille.
- Heavy duty side screen protection.
- Fire and explosive protection for all fuel lines and tank.
- Choice of left or right hand drive
OVIK PHOENIX ALPHA
In late 2012, in response to requests for a cost-effective yet up-to-date and diesel powered PHOENIX, OVIK began integrating fully refurbished SNATCH bodies onto brand new Land Rover PUMA 2.2 diesel engined chassis cabs. OVIK have dubbed this vehicle the PHOENIX ALPHA. The vehicle is essentially brand new with a fully refurbished and upgraded original SNATCH body - with B6 protection.
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Category:Amphibious vehicles Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of the United Kingdom Category:Off-road vehicles Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles Category:Military vehicle manufacturers