Marine Corps Fields More Mobile Light Tactical Vehicle

Polaris photo, iStock illustration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Marine Corps has begun fielding Polaris’s MRZR Alpha 4 Ultra Light Tactical Vehicle, marking a significant milestone in the Corps’ Force Design 2030 modernization effort.

The MRZR Alpha 4 ULTV is replacing the Utility Task Vehicle, providing enhanced logistical support and mobility in rough terrain and inclement weather.

“The mobility that it provides is your protection,” Nick Francis, vice president of Polaris, said in an interview. “Our customers have chosen to keep this vehicle unarmed because it has a much lighter footprint. The lighter a vehicle is, the less ground pressure and the more mobile that vehicle can be.”

The Alpha’s modularity, mobility and transport capabilities are what make it stand out, Francis said on the sidelines of the Modern Day Marine expo. “The Alpha expands on our previous models with the diesel model and offers more space and more room for your payload.”

The Alpha has a higher payload capacity, yet compensates for the extra weight and keeps the ground clearance at about 12 inches, he said. “With more ground clearance, you get more room for mobility.”

The vehicle was designed specifically to meet the requirements for Special Operations Forces and the Marine Corps, he said.

Col. John Gutierrez, portfolio manager for Logistics Combat Element Systems, in a statement said: “Fielding the ULTV serves as a signal that the Corps is keeping in stride with the ambitious roadmap laid out in Force Design 2030. This new capability will ultimately help forge a more agile and resilient Corps — one which is empowered to overcome the evolving complexities of modern warfare.” ND

Topics: Tactical Wheeled Vehicles