ADS & Polaris

Ranger® 6×6 800

Superior Light-Duty Vehicles for Modern Military Operations

To answer the military’s increasing need for high-performance light-duty tactical transports ADS partners with Polaris: the world’s leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles. Together we offer a full line of light-duty military tactical vehicles that deliver excellent mobility and ease of operation. ADS and Polaris stand behind their line of light-duty vehicles by offering full life cycle support and service, including: fleet maintenance and modernization, operator training, technical training, logistics, and parts support. This partnership offers an integrated approach to achieving the highest levels of operational readiness, performance, and overall efficiency.

Operational Vehicle Evolution

In 1941, during the buildup for World War II, the first Willys-Overland Jeep rolled off the production line. Until recent years, lightweight vehicles have played a major role in both peacetime and combat military operations. In Korea and Vietnam, the WWII-era Jeep evolved into such operational mainstays as the M151 1⁄4-short-ton MUTT, the M561 “Gama Goat”, the M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV, and other light trucks.

In the 1990′s, a new breed of military fighting vehicles took over the duties formerly served by “traditional” Jeeps. The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known as the Humvee, was designed primarily for personnel and light cargo transport behind front lines, not as a front line fighting vehicle. Like the Jeep, the basic Humvee had no armor or protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Nevertheless, losses were relatively low in conventional operations, such as the Gulf War.

Through ADS, military customers access online spare and repair parts instantly for all Polaris makes and models, minimizing vehicle maintenance and repair downtime. Through research and collaboration with customers, ADS and Polaris define the limits of tactical vehicle performance – continuously advancing off-road mobility, survivability, power generation, and fuel economy.

However, vehicles and crews suffered considerable damage and losses during the Battle of Mogadishu due to the nature of the urban engagement and because the Humvee was not designed to offer protection against intense small arms fire, much less machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. After Somalia, the military recognized the need for a Humvee protected by hardened steel and bullet-resistant glass. Since that time, next generation Humvee, along with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, carry the burden of everyday military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A quick and easy way to and from forward operating base points

The Reemergence of Light-Duty Requirements

Today, evolving mission needs demand a new type of lightweight vehicle. In many circumstances, as the size and weight of Humvee and MRAP vehicles continues to increase to support combat, their ability to function in other distinct operational environments is diminished. In operational support, personnel do not need protective armor or mine resistant capabilities. They simply need a functional light-duty vehicle for everyday jobs. Additionally, warfighters today face extreme terrain conditions that dramatically limit the in-theater mobility of larger, heavier vehicles.

As Humvees and MRAPs gain weight to accommodate electronic shelters, weapons systems, and armor, they are simply no longer agile enough for serious off-road capability. As a result, the military of today increasingly depends on an innovative adaptation of Jeeps and civilian All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to fill light-duty tactical vehicle requirements for a wide range of mission types. Operational functions may include everyday general purpose duties to highly-specialized combat operations including counter-proliferation, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, and unconventional
warfare missions.

The ability to carry a greater payload

ADS & Polaris in Action

In need of a quick and easy way to and from forward operating base points and a reliable transportation vehicle for wounded warfighters, Marines stationed at Kandahar Air Force Base called on ADS to supply a solution. ADS worked with Polaris Vehicles to develop a customized light-duty vehicle made specifically for their specifications. Our unique mix of surge capability combined with streamlined procurement of the vehicles enabled the unit to field the 20 vehicles on schedule. Today, the Kandahar Marines are quickly and easily reaching forward-operating units and transporting wounded warfighters back to base for much-needed treatment.

Transport & Deployment Ease

Typically smaller than a World War II Jeep, Polaris light-duty vehicles are easier on lift requirements to get them into theater and around the area of operations. Designed for rapid deployment, these vehicles are carried on a sling below a helicopter or inside larger fixed-winged cargo aircraft.

Fuel-Type Consistency & Economy

Polaris vehicles are much less expensive to operate than more traditional wheeled vehicles. Polaris Diesel Ranger vehicles run on JP8, the same fuel powering both diesel-powered ground vehicles and turbine engines found in aircraft and helicopters. Plus, Polaris light-duty vehicles offer unmatched fuel efficiency, and an array of electric power options.

All-Terrain, All-Weather Performance

Physical terrain that is inaccessible to larger, standard vehicles poses no threat to Polaris light duty vehicles. They boast agility and performance in all types of weather, while offering the versatility, mobility, and survivability critical to mission success. A fortified steel frame and enhanced suspension increases protection and the ability to cover rough terrain. With high power-to-weight ratios and superior ground clearance, Polaris light-duty vehicles move swiftly, and responsively to go where heavy-duty equipment cannot. Their off-road mobility is excellent and they easily navigate tighter spaces including narrow roads and areas of dense vegetation.

Usability & Maneuverability

Smaller dimensions, a tighter turning radius, a lower center of gravity, the ability to carry a greater payload, and more ground clearance, contribute to the superior operating capability of Polaris light-duty vehicles. Many of these vehicles drive like a car using rack and pinion steering rather than requiring operators to straddle it and steer with a handlebar, as they would with a repurposed ATV.

Speed & Stealth

Able to reach speeds over 40 mph, even over rugged terrain, Polaris light-duty vehicles are a tougher target than their heavy-duty counterparts. Moreover, when powered by a battery instead of a gasoline engine, such as the Polaris EV-LSV, electric vehicles sound more like an electric golf cart than louder, gas-powered models. By running quieter, Polaris vehicles aid in diminishing detection risk for an array of front-line operations.

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