Vanguard Magazine

P Procurement "Few manufacturers make a diesel snow- mobile and fuel is a precious commodity up north so we're assessing how a diesel machine works in the Arctic environment. Anything we use up in the northern region we have to bring with us. It's not as simple as going to the gas station and filling up." Over the course of winter 2015-2016, the D900 will be used by Canadian Rang- er patrols and as part of the Army's Arctic Observer and Advisor Course, in which soldiers receive Arctic-specific survival training. The D900 and the ARGO XT are being tested by Defence Research and Develop- ment Canada (DRDC), an agency of the Department of National Defence. The vehicles are part of the 2016 Joint Arctic Experiment (JAE). Taking place every two years, the JAE is an opportunity to scien- tifically assess equipment from all three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces. While the Army assesses the vehicles' suitability to the environment, Maj Chan explained, DRDC will be making more technical assessments of features such as fuel economy. Operation Nunalivut proved an ideal cir- cumstance for a DRDC team to test the Light Over Snow Vehicles (LOSV) trial. First, teams tested the vehicles at DRDC's Suffield Research Centre. In phase two of the trial they were able to in- tegrate into Op Nunalivut in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. "Our biggest benefit in being part of Op Nunalivut is being able to take advantage of the unique environment in the Arctic and getting that direct feedback from the soldiers. We couldn't have done this any- where else in the world," explains Defence Scientist Jared Giesbrecht, the trial lead from DRDC. The LOSV trial tested three vehicles --the Argo XTs, the D900s vehicles and the Polaris Rampage. They cannot be directly compared ex- plains Giesbrecht - "each one has their own unique roles and capabilities so we are not comparing apples to apples." The Argo XT is a tracked small unit sup- port vehicle. It can move through varied terrains such as streams, tundra, and ice as well as in -40 C temperatures. The Argo models purchased are gasoline-powered and have a large cargo capacity. "With the Argo you can haul anything but you move at a slower pace. It proved useful as 'go-for' around camp," explains Giesbrecht. The DEW D900 is a diesel powered ver- sion of a regular snowmobile. The main advantages of a diesel engine are improved towing capacity at low speed, and better fuel economy. The Polaris Rampage is a tracked vehicle with a fully enclosed heated cab that can allow for laptops and other electronics to be used safely within. It has a high towing capacity, on-board storage, is amphibious, and can travel up to 80 km/hr. In October 2016, DRDC will be par- ticipating in an experiment where manned and unmanned systems will be tasked with detecting and neutralizing a subsurface minefield. It is part of The Technical Co- operation Progam with participants from Canada, Australia, UK and US. In March 2017, DRDC will also be par- ticipating in a trilateral experiment involv- ing Canada, Sweden and Norway in Na- noose Bay, BC. They will be using sea bed sensors for maritime surface and subsurface detection, identification and tracking. steven Fouchard is with the Army Public Affairs the arctic's isolation and climate have always presented challenges to the canadian armed Forces www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 33 The BV-206 all-terrain vehicle, which carries troops and equipment over snow, swamps and other challenging terrain, will be out of service by 2020. Photo by: Ser- geant Greg Fedorov. CAFJAE 2016 team member Blaine Fairbrother test drives the DEW D900 snowmobile on Arctic terrain.

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