The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is buying DAGOR 4×4 light tactical vehicles from Polaris, according to a 9 September company announcement. The contract is worth $14.6 million (A$22 million).
Deliveries of all DAGORs will be completed within two years, but neither Polaris nor the Department of Defence revealed the quantity of vehicles. However, when compared to an earlier Canadian deal, the price suggests something in the order of 50-60 vehicles.
The Australian contract includes mission accessories, technical manuals, spare parts, toolkits, and driver and maintainer training.
DAGOR is an acronym for Deployable Advanced Ground Off-Road. The ADF will receive “several variants in support of joint missions worldwide,” according to Polaris. These comprise a transport variant for tactical mobility; an expeditionary reconnaissance variant optimised for agility and increased stealth; and a cargo variant where the rear seats are replaced with a rear bed extension for increased load capacity.
Michael Cannell, Government and Defense sales and operation manager at Polaris Australia, declined to comment on who will use the DAGORs, but Australian Army special forces are likely. The ADF had been trialling the DAGOR since around 2015.
These vehicles will include locally engineered and manufactured content such as racks that will be integrated at Polaris’ facility in Melbourne. The diesel-engined DAGOR also produces up to 4.4kW of exportable power, and it can be fitted with heavy weapons.
Cannell commented: “We are proud to provide this capability for Australian personnel. The DAGOR all-terrain vehicle will allow teams to move faster, carry more and significantly reduce combat fatigue by navigating complex terrain otherwise covered on foot. Polaris Australia will also provide in-country sustainment, leveraging the global presence of Polaris as these vehicles deploy globally.”
The Australian military can transport DAGORs inside or under-slung from Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters, as well as its full range of transport aircraft.
The ADF already uses MV850 and Sportsman 6×6 Big Boss ATVs. Polaris also exhibited an MRZR-A all-terrain vehicle at Land Forces.
Polaris noted that all-terrain vehicles are now being more widely distributed in militaries than just equipping special forces. Indeed, Brigadier Doug Pashley, CO of the Darwin-based 1st Brigade, recently told Asian Military Review: “As part of our transition to a littoral brigade, we’re experimenting with a lot of mobility options.” This includes experimentation with light vehicles like the MRZR.
“We’re really lucky we can draw lessons from other forces that have been leading the way in terms of developing littoral capabilities, both the US Marine Corps and the Royal Marines. Both of them have procured some light mobility vehicles, so we’re keen to leverage lessons from them,” Pashley explained.
Cannell said there has been increased interest for its all-terrain vehicles in the past two years.
by Gordon Arthur, Melbourne
