It is a 7.5-ton bullet-proof mean machine that would not look out of place bursting through explosions in a Hollywood action film. And it’s made in the West Midlands.

The new Protected Escort Vehicle (PEV) is being created by Walsall-based MacNeillie and has caught the attention of army top brass.

There is a cloak of secrecy around the PEV.

The company has sealed a major contract after agreeing a deal with a foreign customer to provide the vehicle for military expeditions, although details of the deal are being kept under wraps. The PEV also has many features the company insists must be kept a closely guarded secret for security purposes.

Nigel Rowley, commercial director, says the PEV is one of the toughest vehicles on the planet and could be used in a range of roles including border patrol, command and control and airport security as well as peace-keeping roles abroad.

It also has a fully air-conditioned interior and can be adapted for use as a battlefield ambulance.

He said: “We have struck a significant military deal and we are hoping more contracts will follow. The PEV is particularly versatile and can be used not just for military purposes but for the police and other types of security. We really believe it will catch the attention worldwide.”

Managing director Keith Bradley, who has invested in the project, said: “Although we are on the verge of a recession, we are flying the flag for the manufacturing industry.”

The company is even looking for more than 20 new staff from electricians to coach builders and mechanics.

MacNeillie and Son has been making armoured vehicles since 1912 and employs 350 people at its site in Stockton Close.