Polaris Defense is fast getting traction for military uses now and in airsoft we are also seeing more and more of their ATVs in use in events, a testament to their usability in different terrains. In use in special operations units, Polaris Defense may soon be seen in widespread use in the U.S. Army.

Not exactly armoured as the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) that is set to replace the Humvee,  the Polaris Defense MRZR will be tested as an added fast mobility vehicle to supplement the foot-soldier, especially when there is a need to immediately transport troops in areas where they will ne unexpected  by the enemy. This means fast moving troop movements especially when the situation gets fluid. A commander can immediately move troops to outflank the enemy or pull out soldiers quickly to safety if need be.

The Polaris Defense MRZR ATV (in this case the MRZR 4) is a gas-powered On-Demand True All Wheel Drive (AWD) with an 88 hp 875 cc Polaris Prostar engine that can give it a speed of around 62 mph/100 kmh. It has a 6 person capacity with an overall loading capacity of 680kg. It’s not a heavy vehicle that its occupants can lift it in case it gets stuck or needs to be quickly moved aside from the road.

A diesel version, called the MRZR-D was also announced by the company.

Next month, 10 of these MRZRs will be accompanying the quick reaction force of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in Poland. According to Bloomberg, "Exercise Swift Response” is a “joint, forcible-entry exercise,” and will have these MRZRs air-dropped from C-17 Cargo Planes to accompany 600 paratroopers. The contingent will take off on the 6th of June, the date of the Normandy Landings for the liberation of Europe in World War II, and will drop into Poland after a 10-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean.

“These vehicles significantly enhance what would otherwise be foot mobility,” Brigadier General Brian Winski, deputy commander of the 82nd, added in an e-mail Thursday. “They change the dynamic and turn what would have been a 3 mile-per-hour operation into a 50 mile-per-hour operation,” which would let the troops strike “at a pace and in locations the enemy would not expect.” The vehicles can carry as many as six soldiers at 60 miles per hour.

They will be joining around 1,000 Polish and British paratroopers in the exercise.

The 82nd Airborne already have bought 30 MRZRs for evaluation with the testing being it in its “pilot year” and they will make a recommendation on how many more to buy after doing their evaluation.