BAE Systems Hägglunds and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS)-Canada have formed a partnership to compete in Ottawa’s Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) program.
The collaboration brings together BAE’s expertise in all-terrain vehicle development and GDLS’ extensive in-service support network in Canada. Their proposal centers on the BvS10 Beowulf all-terrain vehicle, intended to replace the Canadian Army’s aging BV206 fleet.
A member of the BvS10 family, the Beowulf can transport up to 14 personnel or roughly 8,000 kilograms (17,637 pounds) of cargo, reaching speeds of 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour.
Its dual-body design allows it to operate in harsh Arctic environments as well as muddy, sandy, snowy, icy, and muskeg terrain.
Thanks to its amphibious capabilities, it can also travel through deep water.
The DAME program, budgeted between 250 and 499 million Canadian dollars ($178–$355 million), aligns with Canada’s broader strategic aim to strengthen its presence across the Arctic and northern regions.
The initiative seeks to acquire a fleet of medium, amphibious, high-mobility vehicles capable of year-round operations in extreme conditions, along with support trailers.
The fleet will include a common platform available in four variants: command post, troop transport, cargo/equipment carrier, and ambulance.
Initial deliveries are expected between 2029 and 2030, with the program wrapping up by 2031–2032.
In addition to the BAE–GDLS bid, Canadian firm Roshel and Singapore’s ST Engineering have teamed up to offer the ExtremV platform for the DAME competition.
