Domestic Artic Mobility Enhancement

The DAME – Domestic Artic Mobility Enhancement Project is intended to be a key enabler for achieving present and future strategic goals in Canada’s North as well as enhance domestic response capabilities throughout all regions of Canada.

The Canadian Army needs a high mobility vehicle to move and survive for extended periods in the severe weather and terrain conditions found in the Arctic, in order to transport troops and equipment for safety, security and defence missions in Canada’s North. The in-service Bandvagn 206 (BV-206) vehicles are nearing their end of life. As a result, the CAF is more reliant on snowmobiles and light all-terrain vehicles which lack amphibious capabilities and environmental protection for the crew, are limited in troop and cargo carrying capacity, and are not designed for year-round use, nor are they suitable for casualty or medical evacuation, and all of that results in a greater dependency on limited and costly air medical services.

The CAF therefore needs a high mobility vehicle to transport personnel and equipment for extended periods in the extreme temperature and terrain conditions found in the Arctic.

DAME is in the Optional Analysis phase and has a projected budget of $100 – $249 million CAD. The DAME project will obtain a medium size, high mobility vehicle platform for the CAF that can provide the mobility, sustainment and communications required by forces employed in support of domestic operations. The platform will also provide essential mission support such as medical services and resupply. The project intends to deliver a common vehicle platform in 4 variants: Command Post; Troop Carrying; Cargo and Equipment Carrying; and Ambulance.

Specifically, DAME seeks to acquire up to 170 utility vehicles that can operate year-round in the Arctic and can move a light infantry section (10 soldiers) and crew (2 soldiers) 300 km while being self-sufficient for 72 hours.