Historically, Hostile Vehicle Mitigation has been focussed on preventing a ‘Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device’ (VBIED) from entering a controlled perimeter. As blast overpressure decays rapidly with distance it, keeping a potential blast away is the best form of protection where space allows.
In recent times, with attacks across Europe, there has been a change in that the vehicle itself has now become a low-tech but effective weapon in its own right. Attacks on crowded pedestrian areas have become an established tactic. Depending on circumstances and damage, the attack might then be continued by dismounted assailants.
The barrier, fence and gate technology used to protect against VBIEDs can be deployed just as well to prevent ‘Vehicle as a Weapon’ attacks.
SJH Projects has actively participated in the UK Government sponsored testing of a novel barrier system which was already in use in Canada. This provided an up-close understanding of the energy associated with such an attack and the most effective mechanisms to deal with it.With partners, SJH Projects has undertaken HVM assessments of facilities in the UK and abroad, covering the commercial and Government sector. This has covered single buildings to be used in countries with an established threat, to city centre shopping areas adapting to the recent change in threat.
SJH can provide impartial on advice the relative performance and practicalities of a range of commercially available options for bollards, blockers and other HVM focussed street furniture.
We can also provide a design and test service for bespoke solutions that integrate into your wider requirement and proposed operational set up.
In an era where the “vehicle as a weapon” (VAW) has become a prevalent tactic for bad actors, Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) has evolved from a niche military requirement into a critical pillar of urban planning and public safety. At its core, HVM is a protective security strategy aimed at reducing the risks associated with vehicle-borne threats, including ramming attacks and Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs).
Effective HVM is not just about “bolting down a bollard.” It is a disciplined approach based on several key principles: Risk Assessment, Stand-off, and Integrated Design.
Before a single piece of hardware is installed, security professionals must conduct a Vehicle Dynamics Assessment (VDA). This process identifies:
In the context of explosives, stand-off distance is the most effective defence. The blast overpressure from an explosion decreases exponentially with distance. HVM measures are designed to keep unauthorized vehicles as far away from the protected asset or “crowded place” as possible. Even a few extra meters of stand-off can mean the difference between minor glass damage and a total structural collapse of a building.
HVM utilizes a mix of active and passive measures to create a “rings of protection” effect:
One of the most modern principles of HVM is proportionality and aesthetics. Security should not turn a public space into a fortress or create a “climate of fear.”
Effective HVM is often “invisible.” For example:
To ensure public safety, HVM equipment must be rigorously tested. The industry relies on international standards to certify that a barrier will perform as advertised.
These certifications provide a “performance rating” that tells engineers exactly how much penetration a vehicle will achieve upon impact, allowing for precise placement of barriers relative to the protected asset.
HVM is not a “set and forget” solution. It requires a robust Operational Requirement (OR). Security personnel must be trained to manage active barriers, and mechanical systems require regular maintenance to ensure they function during an emergency. Furthermore, HVM must be balanced against emergency egress—ensuring that while vehicles are kept out, pedestrians can still exit quickly, and emergency services (fire, ambulance) can get in.
A key part in selecting the right Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measure is an understanding of how hard they they might be hit. To understand this a Vehicle Dynamics Assessment (VDA) should be performed. The possible approach routes to each part of your target building or facility should be mapped – bearing in mind that normal ‘rules of the road’ become irrelevant for such a study. For each attack the length of run up distances, the radii of bends, inclines and declines and and the nature of the surface need to be mapped out and recorded. Approved tables are then used for a logical selection of vehicle classes to establish the most probable velocity at impact (velocity being speed and direction). A VDA is meticulous exercise and should be supported by a site visit or detailed photography and terrain and contour mapping where available.
See the SJH Projects more detailed read on Hostile Vehicle Mitigation and Vehicle Dynamics Assessments in ‘Collected Articles’ by clicking Here
A discussion at the DSEI defence show in London posed the question on the possibility of adapting our Detsafe technology to safely contain an array
We have recently completed the design phase for a novel blast/pressure containment vessel. This will allow the customer to perform research and proofing of their
Steve Holland of SJH Projects participated in PASS 2025 ( The Personal Armour Systems Symposium) in Bruges in September. PASS is the premier technical event
