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Polaris Defense Builds New Combat Vehicle (You Wish You Owned)

Dan Miller
By  Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
The DAGOR by Polaris is designed for extreme use by the military. It's not commercially available but some of its features are on other Polaris vehicles. (Photo courtesy Polaris)

They are off-road vehicles unavailable to the farming and ranching community, but it's fascinating still to take a look at what ATV and side-by-side manufacturers have going on inside their products for the Department of Defense. Their work gives extra insight into the manufacturer's thinking about product design and technologies built for the toughest -- and most hostile -- of all off-road environments. Sometimes these military-grade technologies even work their way into civilian models.

Polaris Defense, a division of Polaris Industries Inc. this week unveiled its DAGOR ultra-light combat vehicle. This is the sixth vehicle in its combat and reconnaissance line -- and the largest of them all, coming in at 4,500 pounds.

In addition to the DAGOR, Polaris builds two military-versions of its Sportsman ATVs and three of its two-seat and four-seat RZRs. It also produces a tactical trailer that carries a half-ton of cargo.

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These vehicles all have feature long-range, high ground clearance, high-performance suspension and non-consumer capabilities such as blackout and infrared capable lights. You might recall the revolutionary tires Polaris mounts on a military-version Sportsman MV850. They are the non-pneumatic, honeycombed, TerrainArmor tires that can sustain hits from large-caliber weapons and still maintain operability for more than 350 miles.

The TerrainArmor tires are a military-grade feature now mounted onto a civilian ATV model. The Polaris 2014 Sportsman WV850 H.O. has TerrainArmor tires and a military-grade transmission, to boot.

Polaris military models carry heavy loads. The front and back rack of the Sportsman MV850 carry 600 pounds. The vehicles reach speeds exceeding 50 mph. The RZR SW, designed for law enforcement and border patrol, as well as military applications, has a top speed of 68 mph.

The DAGOR is a unique vehicle for Polaris. It is its largest vehicle, capable of carrying nine, combat-loaded troops and a roof-mounted heavy weapon. Fully loaded it weighs 7,750 pounds, including 3,250 pounds of cargo. Its turbo diesel engine runs on JP8 fuel -- a jet fuel commonly used across many military vehicle lines -- and has a 500-mile range. It can be carried into operations by the CH-47 Chinook helicopter or sling-loaded under a UH-60 Black Hawk.

For ease of operation, maintenance and sustainment in combat operations, the DAGOR uses a commercial, off-the-shelf driveline, operator controls and other civilian-market components. Polaris says the DAGOR was designed and tested, and is now in production, in under two years.

Polaris has no plans at this time to sell a civilian version of the DRAGON. To see Polaris entire defense line go to: www.polaris.com/en-us/military.

(JP/CZ)

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