Cambli Thunder 2 tactical armored vehicle in service with Calgary Police of Canada.

The Cambli Thunder 2 4x4 tactical armored vehicle is now in service with the Calgary Police of Canada. The Thunder 2 is designed, developed and manufactured by the Canadian Company Cambli. The vehicle was launched in November 2015 using a new design for the security requirements and to be used in desert conditions in the Middle-East and Africa.

Thunder 2 4x4 tactical armored truck of Calgary Police of Canada. (Picture source Calgary Sun Youtube account print screen)

Today police forces from all over the world are now equipped with tactical armored vehicles designed to be used to perform rescue missions or counter-terrorism operations.

The Thunder 2 acquired by the Calgary Police will replace the old Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) that was used about 500 times, including at an incident in Abbeydale where a police officer was shot and sent to the hospital with serious injuries. The vehicle was also used during the 2013 flood, according to the Calgary Sun newspaper website. Calgary Police say the current vehicle, which the service bought in 2007, is coming to the end of its life cycle.

Calgary police first used an armored vehicle in 1974. Now, the ARV is routinely deployed in situations such as responding to stolen vehicles, people barricaded with weapons and executing high-risk warrants.

The Cambli Thunder 2 is divided into three main compartments with the driver and co-driver at the front, the commander and gunner in the middle and troops compartment at the rear with seven seats. The Cambli Thunder 2 is fitted with a hydraulic package mounted at the front of the vehicle which includes a 6m battering ram which can be used to move obstacles, forcing a door, or to push heavy objects. with an elevation from -20° to 70°.

The hull and all windows of the Thunder 2 provides a ballistic protection B7 level, against the firing of small arms 7.62mm using armor-piercing bullets and has a V-shaped blast protection hull.