Lenco BearCat

BearCat
A BearCat pictured in 2007.
Type	Non-military armored vehicle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	1999
Manufacturer	Lenco Industries (Lenco Armored Vehicles)
Unit cost	US$188,793–300,000
Produced	1999
Variants	Military, G3, LE, VIP SUV, Medevac LE, Medevac Mil, Riot Control, G4 M-ATV, EOD
Specifications
Weight	16,500–17,550 lb
Length	20 ft
Width	10 ft
Height	8–12 ft
Crew	2 + 10 passengers
Armor	NIJ Type IV, 1.5–0.5 inch steel plate
Main armament	Weapon mountable rotating roof hatch
Secondary armament	Multiple side gun ports
Engine	Caterpillar turbo diesel 300 hp
Power/weight	40 hp/ton
Suspension	4 and 6 wheel configurations
Operational range	Unknown
Speed	75–90 MPH, "capable of highway speeds"

The Lenco BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck) is a wheeled armored personnel carrier designed for military and law enforcement use. It is in use by numerous military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world.

Since 1981 the Massachusetts-based Lenco Industries, known as Lenco Armored Vehicles, has designed and manufactured armored vehicles for law enforcement, military, government and private security forces. Lenco has produced more than 5,000 armored vehicles for use in more than 40 countries worldwide.

The BearCat is one type of vehicle produced by the company that is in use by numerous U.S. military and law enforcement agencies and it also used by numerous Police Tactical Groups in Australia. The name BearCat stands for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck as it is the smaller cousin to the Lenco B.E.A.R. However, this is probably a backronym, as in Chinese 熊猫 are the characters for bear and cat, and together mean panda, alluding to the panda car or the black and white. The Bearcat is based on a Ford F-550 Super Duty Chassis with two available engines (the V10 Triton Gasoline and the 6.7L Turbo Diesel), six-speed automatic transmission commercial truck chassis. The .5 inch thick mil spec steel armored bodywork is completed with .50 caliber rated ballistic glass capable of multi-hits, blast-resistant floors, gunports, roof hatches/turret and agency specific equipment and/or modifications such as lights/sirens/battering ram/winches/thermal cameras and spot lights.

The first BearCat was designed and completed in August 2001 as a spin-off product of the larger Lenco B.E.A.R., with input from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) as an updated and improved version of their military surplus Cadillac Gage Ranger "PeaceKeeper" armored vehicles.

BearCats are typically referred to by law enforcement agencies as being "armored rescue vehicles" with their primary use being to transport tactical (SWAT/Special Reaction Teams) officers to and from hostile situations and to assist with the recovery and protection of civilians in harm's way during terrorist threats, hostage incidents, or encounters with large gatherings of aggressors. The Bearcat is designed to provide protection from a variety of small arms, explosives and IED threats. Like its larger cousin the B.E.A.R, the Bearcat is able to be fitted with the "MARS" Mobile Adjustable Ramp System which allows tactical officers to gain entry to elevated platforms such as second story windows or aircraft.