Delta Scientific, a manufacturer of counter-terrorist vehicle control systems, recently released the 6.1 m MP5000 portable vehicle barricade system, which successfully passed a full scale crash test conducted by an independent test lab, following ASTM test criteria for an M40 level test. That is a 6,8 ton flatbed truck impacting at 64 kilometers per hour. With the successful test result, the new longer version of the towable, rapid deployment vehicle barricade is cleared for production. The 6.1 m MP5000 was created because U.S. Army REF (Rapid Equipping Force), based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, had a requirement for a portable barrier at checkpoints in Afghanistan. Due to the size of vehicles in their theatre, they wanted a unit with a clear opening larger than the standard 4,8 m version.

The mission of the REF is to equip operational commanders with commercial-off-the-shelf and government-off-the-shelf solutions, serving as a solutions catalyst, canvassing the military, industry, academia and the science community for existing and emerging technologies. The MP5000 barricade  is now available in 3,66 m -, 4,8 m - and the new 6,1 m clear openings. It can be towed to where vehicle security is needed and sets up in less than fifteen minutes, is self contained and battery powered. In addition to forward operating bases in Afghanistan, it can also be seen at G20 meetings to protect life and property on city streets. [www.deltascientific.com]