Belgium has signed a $10.6 million contract with Polaris Government and Defense to procure MRZR D4 tactical all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for its Special Operations Regiment. The highly mobile vehicles will replace the Belgian Armed Forces’ Groundhog fleet, which has been in service since 2009, enhancing operational mobility across challenging terrain and contested environments. The delivery schedule has not been announced.
The procurement is being executed through a NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework agreement established in September 2025, enabling Belgium to accelerate the acquisition process by eliminating additional trials and competitive bidding. The framework also delivers cost savings through bulk purchasing while promoting interoperability, standardization, and reduced logistics requirements among NATO allies and partner nations.
First introduced in 2012, the Polaris MRZR platform has undergone continuous upgrades to meet evolving military requirements and is currently operated by more than 50 allied forces in both gasoline and diesel configurations. The MRZR D4 features a modular design with a collapsible roll cage for air transport, selectable all-wheel drive, one-meter water-fording capability, and a payload capacity of 680 kilograms.
Powered by a 55-horsepower turbo-diesel engine, the four-seat vehicle offers an operational range of up to 322 kilometers. It can be transported by platforms such as the AW101 Merlin, CH-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey, most fixed-wing aircraft, and naval vessels. The MRZR D4 supports a wide range of missions, including troop transport, casualty evacuation, command and control, cargo movement, and can be equipped with counter-drone, ISR, communications, autonomy, medical evacuation, and weapon systems.
