BAE Systems Hägglunds and GDLS-Canada have announced a joint bid for the Canadian government’s Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) initiative. The team aims to leverage BAE’s decades of all-terrain vehicle design experience and GDLS-Canada’s nationwide sustainment capabilities. Their proposed solution is the BvS10 Beowulf, an advanced tracked vehicle designed to replace the Canadian Army’s legacy BV206 carriers.
The Beowulf, part of the well-established BvS10 series, offers exceptional payload and mobility performance. It accommodates up to 14 personnel or around 8,000 kilograms of payload while achieving speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph). Its articulated, dual-body configuration enables reliable movement through the harshest conditions—ranging from Arctic blizzards and icy terrain to muddy routes, muskeg, sand, and snow. The vehicle’s amphibious capability adds versatility, allowing it to traverse deep water obstacles essential in northern operations.
Canada’s DAME program—funded at CAD 250 million to CAD 499 million ($178–$355 million)—aligns with Ottawa’s long-term strategy to improve mobility and operational readiness in the Arctic and northern regions. The initiative seeks to acquire a fleet of medium amphibious, all-terrain carriers optimized for extreme climates, complemented by dedicated support trailers. The fleet blueprint includes four variants: a command post model, a troop carrier, a cargo and equipment hauler, and a medical evacuation/ambulance variant.
Deliveries are projected to begin in 2029–2030, with full program completion targeted for 2031–2032. In addition to the BAE–GDLS proposal, the DAME competition also features the ExtremV vehicle, offered by Canadian manufacturer Roshel in collaboration with Singapore’s ST Engineering, further intensifying the race for Canada’s next-generation Arctic mobility platform.
