Grizzly APC
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense |
| Predecessor | Blackwater Worldwide |
| Founded | April 2007 |
| Headquarters | Camden, North Carolina , United States |
| Parent | Academi |
The Grizzly APC is a 22-ton infantry mobility vehicle engineered and produced by Academi specifically for operations in urban combat environments.
Design
The Grizzly is offered in three drivetrain layouts: 4x2, 4x4, and 6x6, with a choice among three Caterpillar diesel engines.
Its protective system, known as the "Blackwater High Threat Armor Protection System," incorporates AR500 steel combined with sloped armor plates and a v-shaped hull to defend against 12.7 mm .50 caliber projectiles and improvised explosive device (IED) detonations. The vehicle’s underside is reinforced with Fiber-Tek armor and features a completely enclosed drivetrain. Both internal and external surfaces are coated with Tactical ArmorThane to minimize spall hazards.
For crew access and defense, the Grizzly is equipped with two hatches on the roof, five firing ports (two on each side and one at the rear), and bullet-resistant glass windows certified to NIJ level 3 standards. It also has forward and rear halogen searchlights exceeding 400,000 candlepower that can be operated remotely. A turret ring on the roof supports a 12.7mm heavy machine gun mounted on a remote weapon station.
Two Grizzly APC units outfitted with EXO Scale anti-EFP appliqué armor from ARES Systems Group were submitted by Blackwater USA for the U.S. military’s MRAP II competition held at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Although the armor met testing requirements, the vehicle was ultimately rejected due to inadequate frontal armor coverage. Blackwater considered enhancing the front armor and appealing the decision but was not successful.
Production
Manufacturing of the Grizzly is carried out by Blackwater Armored Vehicle, a subsidiary of Academi (previously known as Blackwater Worldwide and Xe Services LLC) at their factory located in Camden, North Carolina. Production commenced in April 2007, with an initial goal of producing at least one unit daily to satisfy market demand. Nevertheless, after the U.S. Army declined to adopt the Grizzly in 2008 and international military sales did not develop, workforce reductions were implemented at the facility.
While early versions were built on commercial GMC (automobile) chassis, more recent models utilize a bespoke chassis manufactured by Seagrave Fire Apparatus based in Clintonville, Wisconsin.
See also
External links
- Blackwater Grizzly at Defense Update
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