MRZR Alpha ATVs readied for UAE SOCOM

The MRZR Alpha LTATV was initially designed for the US SOF. (Polaris Government and Defense)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is set to become the first international customer for Polaris Government and Defense's 4×4 MRZR Alpha light tactical all-terrain vehicle (LTATV).

According to the social media pages of Polaris' in-country distributor, Specialised Sports Equipment (SSE), employees in the UAE are training to “serve the customer prior to delivery of the product”.

SSE was unavailable to comment on the procurement, at the time of publication, but a spokesperson for Polaris confirmed to Janes that “Polaris has supplied our first Alphas into the Middle East through Specialised Sports Equipment in the UAE”.

“SSE is fully trained on our military platforms to provide localised support to our customers in the region, including parts support, operator training, and mechanic certification courses,” the statement continued.

Polaris was able to confirm the purchase was a direct sale but was unable to comment on the customer, number of vehicles to be delivered, and timelines involved.

Defence sources suggested to Janes that the MRZR Alpha vehicles are destined for service with UAE SOCOM, which is responsible for the conduct of direct action, special reconnaissance, and military assistance operations across the Middle East and further afield.

The MRZR Alpha LTATV was initially designed for the US special operations forces (SOF) following demands for extended levels of durability, performance, payload profile, and internal air transportability, defence sources confirmed to Janes.

The vehicle, which features a diesel engine, is already in service with US Special Operations Command following a USD109 million contract for 814 vehicles awarded in 2020.