With the appointment of Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, many people noticed the presence of a mysterious vehicle filled with antennas on the roof. There are many questions about the function of this vehicle and what mysterious technology is used in this vehicle that looks like a hedgehog on wheels.
This vehicle was first seen when Anwar was on his way to the Istana Negara to take the oath and was then seen again in front of his vehicle convoy on his way home after the ceremony. Whenever he moves to his destination after taking the oath yesterday, this black Volvo XC60 SUV can be clearly seen because on the roof there are dozens of long black antennas, circular antennas and also a large black dome.
Based on our research, this is an anti-terrorist attack vehicle that has several nicknames such as Roadrunner among the secret security personnel of the President of the United States.
The main function of the Roadrunner is to prevent bomb attacks using remote control devices or better known as IEDs. The extended antenna on the roof serves as a tool to prevent radio and cellular frequencies (jammer signals) that may be used by terrorists to detonate bombs. Before being used to protect heads of state, this technology had already been used in Iraq to protect armored vehicles and infantrymen in Iraq who were victims of IED explosions.
The US military's Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and HUMMER armored vehicles have placed radio-controlled anti-IED (RCIED) antennas since 2018 and their infantry have been using the Joint Counter-Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) since last year after undergoing field tests since 2017.
If you followed the live broadcast of the Prime Minister's convoy from his home to his office in Putrajaya this morning, you may have noticed that the stream was interrupted for a few seconds when the Roadrunner passed in front of the camera as in the image above. We are aware that broadcasts are interrupted during the streaming of Astro Awani and Malaysia Gazette.
So as a conclusion, the radio frequency blocking system used can interfere with cellular networks (streaming using phones) and satellites (streaming using video cameras) used by the media.
This disruption of radio and satellite networks only covers a small bubble. That is why it is placed in front of the convoy to neutralize the path of vehicles carrying the Prime Minister. It is also the reason why there is no interference on the live broadcast from Istana Negara due to the position of the reporter's camera which is quite far from the convoy route.
In addition to being an anti-IED attack bubble, the Roadrunner also has a secondary function as a communication vehicle for the use of the Prime Minister. Even when travelling, the Prime Minister (or any head of state using the same security system) still needs to have contact with the outside world. They still need to have access to phone, internet and video calling in the vehicle.
Therefore on the roof there is also a system that allows selected communication systems such as two-way radio and telephone on selected channels to be used throughout the journey to the destination.
So the mystery of the hedgehog-like car in front of the Prime Minister's convoy has been solved. In addition to Malaysia, vehicles such as the Roadrunner are also used by the President of the United States and other heads of state in the world.
