The British Royal Marines have successfully tested the Polaris MRZR-D4 ultralight 4×4 off-roader and other fast and agile lightweight vehicles.
The vehicles have been trialled to assess their usefulness as the marines are gearing up to conduct missions that require them to enter and exit enemy positions quickly.
Developed by Polaris Defense, a division of Polaris Industries, the vehicle is a high-performance, turbo-charged diesel variant of the MRZR 4 vehicle.
According to British Royal Navy, the vehicle is equipped for raiding missions, which the Royal Marines are currently focusing on as part of their modernisation and restructuring.
This modernisation is aimed at ensuring that the vehicles are ready to counter advanced threats.
Royal Marines tested these vehicles across the sand dunes at Braunton Burrows in North Devon.
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By GlobalDataRoyal Marines Commando Forces Master Driver warrant officer 2 Chris Burge said: “Because of the Littoral Strike concept and the transformation of the commando forces, Royal Marines are trialling the light mobility vehicle and with that we are using the MRZR-D4 as a proof of concept.
“Today we are at Braunton Burrows where we do our driver training and with the MRZR-D4 we are currently doing the basic operator courses for the Vanguard Strike Company.
“The MRZR-D4 is going to be used as an agile, nimble vehicle designed for smaller teams to get across the battlefield.
“It hasn’t got armour protection, so with that it’s more for manoeuvre and agility than for weapons systems.”
The Polaris MRZR-D4 off-roader is capable of carrying up to four commandos and reach at speeds of 60mph for rapid movement across the battle space.
The MRZR vehicles can be used to carry supplies and equipment such as ammunition, water and fuel for commando missions.
They can also be equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers for added firepower.
In December last year, Royal Marines trialled new CanAm 6×6 all-terrain vehicles to transport the mortars around Salisbury Plain during exercises.