Most people know about police SWAT teams and their increasing use of BearCats in standoffs and other volatile situations. But a new, smaller tactical vehicle called the Rook has helped in multiple law enforcement operations, leaving some confused about what it is and how it works.
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In the basest sense, the Rook is an armored Cat 297C, a skid steer loader with tracks which before armoring tips the scale at almost 10,000 lbs. Once Ring Power Corporation is done installing NIJ Level IV armor for the cab, plus bulletproof glass, the operator sits in a full protected cockpit, able to operate without fear of projectiles or anything else causing harm.
Different attachments can be added to the Rook’s hydraulic arms to provide a customized approach to different tactical situations. One is the Armored Deployment Platform which provides cover for law enforcement as the Rook helps them gain entry into a hot zone. The platform can be raised if officers are trying to reach a balcony, window, etc. Lights, gun ports, and bulletproof windows add to its utility. Ring Power even added a ladder system and rooftop platform for getting into the third story of a building from the outside.
There’s also a platform on the back of the Rook, allowing more officers to ride there and provide cover for those on the Armored Deployment Platform.
We’ve also seen the Rook use its Hydraulic Breaching Ram to small through walls, vehicles, and other obstacles so police can gain a better view of a suspect or get access to them. With 6,500 psi it packs way more of a punch than a traditional battering ram. Plus the ram itself is equipped with cameras that can provide infrared readings before a breach is made.
When it’s necessary to literally rip into a structure, like when a dangerous suspect has holed up in an attic, the Grapple Claw makes short work of an otherwise tricky situation. We’ve seen this thing at work and it’s every bit as brutally efficient as it looks. Ring Power say it can lift up to 4,500 lbs. of material, which is as much as most cars.
Speaking of cars, the Vehicle Extraction Tool is pretty self-explanatory. Not only can it drag a car, it can also pick up and move one, either to provide access to an area or to stop suspects from fleeing.
Thanks to its small size and zero-turn maneuverability, the Rook can gain access to tight areas other armored vehicles couldn’t enter. The concept is so simple and practical, it’s a wonder nothing like it has been used by law enforcement until recently.
While we usually see the Rook in tactical police situations like standoffs, it can be used in rescue operations as well. We’re sure more specialized attachments and other design improvements will be coming in the future as this interesting tactical vehicle is used in more high-profile cases, gaining greater public attention.
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