June 22, 2007: Armored
hummers are a lot safer, but all that extra metal, and bulletproof glass,
presents another problem; getting out in a hurry after an accident. So
engineers at BAE Systems created the Vehicle Emergency Escape (VEE) Window. The
new window takes about an hour to install, and replaces the existing
bulletproof window with one that has a latch system. It takes about five
seconds to turn the latches and push the window forward. This enables troops to
get out of vehicles that have rolled over, or gone into the water, and jammed
the doors. If the vehicle catches fire, either from an accident or roadside
bomb, the VEE can be a lifesaver. The army and marines use nearly 40,000
armored hummers.
