Shows the ability to both drive the vehicle & still have dismounted control of a robotic platform

Polaris Government and Defense, a division of Polaris Industries Inc., showcases its MRZR X multi-mode vehicle platform internationally at IDEX.

“Autonomous systems are disrupting the status quo and shaping the way we will do battle in the future. The MRZR X is a transformative vehicle because it is optionally manned and can fulfil its current mission to move at the speed of manoeuver with a driver or act as a robotic mule to carry mission equipment and soldiers’ loads,” said Jed Leonard, Vice President, Polaris Government and Defense. “This ability to both drive the vehicle and still have dismounted control of a robotic platform provides great mission capability and operation flexibility.”

The MRZR X is designed for future flexibility, with Modular Robotic Applique Kits (M-RAKs) from Applied Research Associates Inc (ARA). ARA has been producing M-RAKs for more than 20 years, with a specialty in off-road robotics, further enhanced by the acquisition of Neya Systems.

The vehicle’s hybrid drivetrain is powerful and reliable, allowing for export power, longer missions, high speeds and silent drive when needed – all on the very familiar, sustainable and intuitive MRZR platform.

The MRZR X is currently undergoing field trials in a squad integration evaluation with the US Army as part of the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme. The UK Ministry of Defence also included the vehicle in its December Army Warfare Experiment (AWE), further proving its viability as a support vehicle.

Polaris Government and Defense is also displaying the DAGOR and MRZR Diesel vehicle platforms. The Polaris family of vehicles helps address the continued need within light infantry and special operations forces for ultra-light, off-road mobility: from the single passenger MV850 all-terrain vehicle, to the two and four passenger MRZR lightweight tactical all-terrain vehicle, up to the DAGOR ultra-light vehicle, which can carry up to nine warfighters and their gear, for a total payload of up to 4,000lbs (1,814 kilogrammes). These vehicles meet challenging sets of requirements to be extremely off-road capable at full payload while maintaining ease of transportability with tactical air assets.