Ballistic panels for protection against armor-piercing ammunition are being offered by Ford on its Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicles.

The Type IV panels, effective against rifles as well as handguns, are an additional option above and beyond existing ballistic panel protection offered by Ford.

Ford, quoting the U.S. Department of Justice, described Type IV panels as having having been tested "in a conditioned state with .30 caliber armor piercing bullets ... with a specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)."

Optional Type III ballistic panels are already on duty in agencies around the United States and are rated to protect against all handgun and non-armor piercing bullets up to .30 caliber.

The Ford Interceptors are the first pursuit-rated police vehicles in the United States to meet he National Institute of Justice's standard Type IV, providing protection against armor-piercing ammunition.

"Ford is well-known in the police community for going further to enhance officer safety," said Raj Sarkar, general marketing manager, Ford North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing operations. "It's what our product is all about, first and foremost."