Lenco Industries, Inc.

Lenco Industries, Inc., commonly known as Lenco Armored Vehicles, is an American manufacturer of armored tactical vehicles headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1981, the company designs and hand-assembles armored vehicles from the ground up for law enforcement, government, fire and rescue, and military customers. Its vehicles are used in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 40 countries, according to the company. Lenco's product line is centered on the BearCat family of armored tactical vehicles, including the BearCat G2, G3, G4, G5, and X3 models. These vehicles are engineered to withstand high-caliber rounds and high-wind debris, and they are offered with a wide range of upgrades and supplemental gear so agencies can custom-build vehicles for specific missions. The company also produces fire and rescue vehicles, military armored vehicles, and international armored vehicles. Lenco was founded with the goal of designing and manufacturing quality armored vehicles with a reputation for innovation. It grew from a 3,000-square-foot facility to a nearly 200,000-square-foot manufacturing campus. Its current armored tactical vehicle line began in 1999, when the company set out to build a purpose-built armored response and rescue vehicle for first responders rather than relying on repurposed Humvees, retired armored trucks, or up-armored commercial SUVs. That effort produced the Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle, or BEAR, which could transport up to 18 tactical team members and featured large double rear doors and side cargo doors for rapid deployment. The BEAR was an immediate success with U.S. law enforcement agencies and led to the BearCat line. Lenco positions itself around the motto "Serve & Protect," emphasizing that the people who risk their lives to keep others safe deserve vehicles purpose-built to keep them safe. The company supports law enforcement agencies in navigating grant funding for armored vehicles, offering no-cost, no-obligation help through its grant-writing experts. Lenco remains a privately held company and continues to manufacture armored vehicles for domestic and international markets.

Lenco Industries, Inc. was founded in 1981 with a singular goal: to design and manufacture quality armored vehicles with a reputation for industry-defining innovation. The company began in a humble 3,000-square-foot facility and grew over the years into a nearly 200,000-square-foot manufacturing campus. For much of its early history, armored police and rescue vehicles in the United States were largely repurposed Humvees, retired armored trucks, or up-armored commercial SUVs. Lenco's current armored tactical vehicle line began in 1999, when the company answered the call for an armored response and rescue vehicle purpose-built for first responders. Lenco's team met with law-enforcement officers and SWAT teams across the country to identify where traditional armored vehicles fell short and assembled a wishlist of features required for a true armored response vehicle. A team of engineers and automotive experts then designed a new vehicle from the ground up. The result was the Lenco Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle, or BEAR. It was built with Mil-Spec steel armor plate integrated onto a heavily modified commercial truck chassis. Inside, the BEAR could transport up to 18 tactical team members fully equipped with weapons and gear. Large double rear doors and additional side cargo doors made deployment fast and efficient. The BEAR was an instant success and was quickly serving law enforcement agencies across the United States. The BEAR led to the BearCat line, which became the company's flagship armored tactical vehicle family. BearCat models include the G2, G3, G4, G5, and X3, each offering different levels of maneuverability, protection, and tactical features. The BearCat G2 is described as the standard armored tactical vehicle for government use, while the G3 adds heavy-duty suspension and off-road wheels and tires, the G4 adds enhanced underbody fragmentation protection and shock-resistant seating for quick reaction forces, the G5 features an underbody V-hull and blast-attenuating seats for troop transport, and the X3 combines the protection of a 4-door armored cab with additional versatility. Today, Lenco armored vehicles are on the job in all 50 U.S. states and more than 40 countries. The company serves police and government, fire and rescue, military, and international customers. Lenco also supports law enforcement agencies in securing grant funding for armored vehicles, providing no-cost grant-writing assistance to help agencies navigate federal and other programs. The company remains privately held and continues to manufacture armored vehicles from its Massachusetts campus.

• 1999

  Lenco's current armored tactical vehicle line began, leading to the BEAR vehicle.

• 1981

  Lenco founded with the goal of designing and manufacturing quality armored vehicles.

• The BEAR was developed and became an instant success with U.S. law enforcement agencies.

• The BearCat line was introduced, becoming the company's flagship armored tactical vehicle family.

• Lenco grew from a 3,000-square-foot facility to a nearly 200,000-square-foot manufacturing campus.

Purpose-built armored vehicles for the people who risk their lives to keep others safe; hand-assembled, customizable, and mission-ready.

• BearCat G2

  Standard armored tactical vehicle for government use, with excellent maneuverability and a long list of tactical features.

• BearCat G3

  Starts as a standard BearCat G2 before adding an upgraded heavy-duty suspension and off-road wheels, tires, and other features.

• BearCat G4

  Features enhanced underbody fragmentation protection and shock-resistant seating, designed for Quick Reaction Forces.

• BearCat G5

  Features an underbody V-hull, blast-attenuating seats, and multiple weapon integration configurations for troop transport.

• BearCat X3

  Combines the protection of a 4-door armored cab with additional versatility.

• BEAR (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle)

  Groundbreaking armored response vehicle built with Mil-Spec steel armor plate on a modified commercial truck chassis, capable of transporting up to 18 tactical team members.

1. 1Lenco | Tactical Armored Security Vehicleslencoarmor.com
2. 2About Lenco | Armored Vehicle Manufacturerlencoarmor.com
3. 3Police Vehicle Grants | Grant Help | Lencolencoarmor.com
4. 4Lenco Industries, Inc. - Wikidatawikidata.org