Hostile Vehicle Mitigation

Gunnebo provides a range of HVM solutions for every situation

Gunnebo has a wide selection of hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) options for a variety of needs, including airports, government buildings, military installations, and public spaces. Designed to protect critical access points from intrusion, our HVM solutions have been tested and impact rated to PAS 68, IWA 14-1, and ASTM F2656 industry standards, so you know they will provide you the highest levels of physical protection should the need arise.

Our Gunnebo impact rated HVM solutions include:

• Security barriers for unmanned access control, including high traffic flow areas
• Security gates for an increased level of protection
• Road blockers, ideal for , military bases, and nuclear power plants
• Security bollards that allow for pedestrian traffic to flow but block vehicles

We also offer a range of non rated hostile vehicle mitigation solutions to supplement your other HVM tactics. When used together, these products can create a barrier to stop unwanted entry to protect pedestrians, workers, VIPs, structures, and important property from attack by a vehicle.

Who needs hostile vehicle mitigation?

It’s an unfortunate fact of life today that many businesses, public venues, and government facilities all need hostile vehicle mitigation. Although the use of a vehicle to commit crimes and conduct terrorist activities is not new, this type of incident is on the rise. We live in a time of increasing political tension, radicalisation of violent actors, threats to infrastructure, and cyber warfare.

There are a number of ways vehicles can be used in a hostile manner:

• Parked (usually carrying explosives)
• Encroachment using lapses in perimeter security or by tailgating
• Penetrative (ramming or breaching a structure), which has become a new mode for terrorists
• Deception, aka a ‘Trojan vehicle’
• Duress (forcing employees or other staff to allow access)
• Insider, using legitimate access to conduct an attack
• Tamper or sabotage (typically with a weak security barrier)

We’ve seen these VAW (vehicle as a weapon) methods used across the globe, in places like Nice and Baghdad. Attacks cause structural damage, chaos, and mass death. Lately, the theft of material to create nuclear bombs is another common concern, along with the destruction of public utilities and communications channels.

Therefore, people and property must be protected from the use of cars and trucks to breach restricted areas, whether for purposes of service interruption, theft, or personal injury. Hostile vehicle mitigation measures can prevent cars and trucks from entering a property via roadways, eliminate the danger of ramming, and increase what’s known as the ‘standoff distance’, which is the space between a building and its perimeter. The more you can increase the standoff distance, the better chance you have of deterring would-be attackers.

Additionally, some public spaces may be vulnerable to vehicles that are simply poorly driven or moving too fast, putting pedestrians in harm’s way without something between them and nearby traffic. A vehicle that is out of control can be considered hostile if it places people or public structures in danger, so regular pedestrian areas may need HVM for inadvertent attacks as well.

Gunnebo services a broad array of organisations in Australia and around the globe to provide hostile vehicle mitigation solutions. Our clients include:

• National, state, and municipal governments
• Embassies and NGOs
• Corporate headquarters
• Manufacturing facilities
• Businesses
• Banks, credit unions, and financial institutions
• Construction sites
• Military installations and border patrols
• Law enforcement and first responder stations
• Correctional facilities
• Airports and transportation hubs
• Hotels and hospitality enterprises
• Nuclear power plants
• Public utility buildings and data centres
• Healthcare and research institutions
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Public venues, including shopping malls and stadia
• Museums, zoos, and cultural organisations
• Historic buildings and palaces
• Parks and pedestrian malls
• Parking structures

We give these groups solutions for protection against hostile vehicles, so everyone involved is safer and the property is not vulnerable to any of the intrusion methods outlined above.

What’s the difference between active and passive vehicle security barriers?

Different types of properties and threat levels require different hostile vehicle mitigation methods. Our Gunnebo HVM solutions can be divided into two basic categories:

1. Passive vehicle security barriers are fixed in place and cannot be moved. Examples of passive barriers include static bollards, concrete walls, immovable fencing, and some types of landscaping, where the terrain is utilised to stop the forward movement of a vehicle.
2. Active security barriers need to be moved, either manually or automatically. A guard may lift a barrier out of the way, or the use of a card or biometrics reader may open a gate. This category of barriers includes active bollards (aka automated or retractable bollards), traffic control arms, and gates that slide or swing open. Wedge barriers, aka road blockers, are another form of active HVM, as they can be lowered flush with the ground to permit traffic to pass or raised to block vehicles.

There are pros and cons to each type of security solution. Passive vehicle barriers don’t need a lot of maintenance, power supply, or manpower. They can be more aesthetically pleasing too in order to blend with a building or the environment. In the case of bollards, people can pass through an area, but vehicles will still be screened out. These barriers tend to be lower-cost and are thus used to cover large perimeters, especially in lower-threat scenarios.

Active vehicle barriers typically offer more control over access points, but they may be more complex to operate and maintain. These barriers are serious enough to deter potential criminals or terrorists from even trying to enter a facility by virtue of their size and obvious strength. Active bollards and road blockers that lower into the ground need to be kept free of snow and ice in order to function properly on demand, but they afford users greater flexibility. For example, at a border crossing, they can be deployed in unmanned lanes during slow periods when only one or two agents are on duty; at the busiest times, they can be retracted to allow for more traffic when staff is up to the task.

How do you decide which hostile vehicle mitigation strategy is right for your location?

Our team of experts can assist you when it comes to selecting the best HVM solutions for your unique needs. Some factors to be considered include:

• Threat level of the property (e.g., high-risk sites vs special event sites)
• Need for constant vehicle barriers vs intermittent use
• Desired standoff distance
• Architecture and building materials
• Environment and landscaping (natural barriers), including water features
• Climate and typical weather conditions
• Road or driveway access, plus vehicle patterns and approaches
• Ground conditions and foundation
• Power supply for active barriers or bollards with lights
• Manpower and maintenance available
• Integration with other security measures (e.g., cameras, badge readers) and entrance control

We aim to stay one step ahead with our Gunnebo technology whilst also collaborating when it comes to practicalities like limited space and budget.

Contact Gunnebo for more information or to place an order

We’re here to help you select the best hostile vehicle mitigation strategy to halt threats to your property. To learn more or to enquire about purchasing HVM products, ring Gunnebo in Australia on 1800 164 448 or in New Zealand on 09 415 0825. You can also reach out any time online using our convenient contact form.