U.S. Marines conducting mobile raids or reconnaissance patrols during future combats in Asia will do so in the lightweight and agile Polaris MRZR-D all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

The Marines will receive the last of the 144 Polaris MRZR-D ATVs they ordered in May. They plan to equip each Marine infantry regiment with 18 of these rugged ATVs that can carry four heavily armed grunts (including the driver) and their gear.

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MRZR-D, which the Marines refer to as the Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), is designed to quickly concentrate and disperse forces as required, and provide initial assault and raid capability for surface and vertical assaults

Marine expeditionary units and Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Forces will use the UTV when deploying in austere environments. UTV is the first such vehicle designed specifically for infantry Marines.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab completed field user evaluations last year to evaluate what the vehicles can do and how much they can carry. The lab identifies possible future challenges; develops new warfighting concepts and tests new ideas to help develop equipment that meets the challenges of the future operating environment.

The Marine version of the MRZR is designed to be diesel-powered, but can run on JP-8 military jet fuel. It also has the advantage of being small enough to fit inside the Bell Boeing V-22B Osprey multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing, and short takeoff and landing capabilities.

This advantage means Marines can depart from ship to shore, or from one land destination to another, accompanied by their ground transportation, in this case the UTV.

The general-purpose UTV will support grunts by carrying more logistics and going places the infantry can't go. Being wheeled, the UTV can carry more supplies, ammunition and be able to provide casualty evacuation. It can carry a 680 kg payload.

After the last ATV is delivered in May, the UTV will soon after see their first deployments with Marine Corps infantry units. 

TagsU.S Marines, Polaris MRZR-D all-terrain vehicle, ATV, Utility Task Vehicle, Asia, Bell Boeing V-22B Osprey