Polaris DAGOR poised to strike

The US Special Forces is about to take delivery of a new Ultra Light Combat Vehicle, produced by ATV and snowmobile specialist Polaris

Here's a light truck you'll hopefully never see charging towards you: the Polaris DAGOR.

Built to meet the US military's Ultra Light Combat Vehicle Class, the 4500lb (2t) assault vehicle can take up to nine soldiers – four in the cab, four in the rear tray, and one roof gunner – into battle at breakneck speed.

It's been designed to be flown into combat zones by air and is small enough and light enough to be transported by helicopter. It also comprises a high degree of consumer off-the-shelf (COTS) parts, so spares can be readily sourced around the world.

Polaris Defense says the DAGOR can accommodate up to 48 weapons (no, that's not a misprint) and has a 3250lb (1475kg) maximum payload.

The vehicle was developed in conjunction with engineering maestro Roush Industries, known for its involvement in NASCAR, and it rolls on long-travel, trophy-truck-style Fox suspension.

While Polaris is tight-lipped concerning the specifics, the vehicle is powered by a 'JP8' turbo-diesel engine and is said to have a range of around 800 kilometres.

It's Polaris Defense's first all-new military vehicle and the company has taken it from concept to production in just two years. It's being built by Roush Industries in Michigan and Polaris says the US Special Forces will take delivery of the first examples shortly. Another military force in the Asia/Pacific region is also believed to have signed on for the DAGOR.

Polaris won't say what the vehicle's name means but according to Wikipedia 'dagor' means 'battle' in the elvish Sindarin language created by Lord of the Rings author, J R R Tolkein.

Sadly 4WD enthusiasts will have to salivate from afar – Polaris says it has no plans for a civilian version – but military buyers can snap up a DAGOR for a very reasonable $US149,000 ($A170,000).

The vehicle will be unveiled to the public in Washington DC on Monday, October 13, at the 2014 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting.

The DAGOR is the latest in a growing range of military vehicles from Polaris. The company recently unveiled a military-spec version of its Sportsman ATV with innovative TerrainArmour non-pneumatic tyres, and in 2012 produced military variants of its RZR side-by-side vehicles. Check out the clip below to see the MRZRs in action...

Polaris DAGOR poised to strike

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