SVI Engineering, leading specialist manufacturer of armoured products, has released the fifth episode in its innovative Shoot Through series of videos, this time scrutinising the effect of an AK47 round on a seatbelt mechanism (watch Episode 5 here).
“Despite tracing its origins all the way back to the mid-19th century, the humble seatbelt – when properly worn – remains one of the most effective automotive safety devices. But how will it stand up to AK47 fire? There’s only one way to find out,” said Nicol Louw, SVI Business Development Director.
As shown in the footage captured by a Photron Fastcam SA4 high-speed camera – graciously supplied by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and set at 30 000 frames per second – the 7.62×39 mm conventional steel-core round runs straight through the seatbelt retractor mechanism, before passing through a single layer of the webbing itself, sending fibres and other debris flying.
“The slow-motion footage of the round striking the seatbelt mechanism makes for particularly dramatic viewing but is also a stark reminder of the penetrating power delivered by assault rifles. However, since we use only the highest-quality armouring materials, our 360-degree B6 packages are more than up to the task,” said Jaco de Kock, CEO of SVI.
Buckle up! It’s time to see how a seatbelt handles AK47 fire https://t.co/eWfkUZ3oWg#ArriveAlive @SVI_Engineering pic.twitter.com/UC6xQJpcve
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 3, 2023
