U.K. Commandos Get Faster Snowmobiles for Arctic Raids

Royal Marines Commandos have received new snowmobiles to enhance reconnaissance and raiding operations across the Arctic’s snow and ice.

The U.K. Commando Force now operates 159 Lynx Brutal Over Snow Reconnaissance Vehicles (OSRV), manufactured by a Finnish subsidiary of Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). These snowmobiles aim to increase speed and range for missions across the Arctic Circle.

The £9 million investment supports the Commando Force’s shift to smaller, highly-mobile teams for reconnaissance and strike missions behind enemy lines. Traditional methods such as skiing and snowshoes remain in use, but the snowmobiles are now available to a wider group within the Littoral Strike Group.

The Lynx Brutal snowmobiles arrived at Camp Viking in Northern Norway in January and have been tested by the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) from the Plymouth-based 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group during Winter Deployment 25.

An unnamed SRS operator described the snowmobiles as more powerful and agile, enabling the transport of heavier sledges without compromising performance. The vehicle also features improved suspension and an aggressive track for better handling in deep snow.

The U.K.’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) delivered the snowmobiles in under nine months, including in-service support to maintain operational readiness.

With Russia increasingly willing to assert influence, the addition of these more powerful snowmobiles enables Commandos to be more agile and to carry heavier loads over more challenging snow terrain, the Royal Navy said.

Meanwhile, Vityaz has sent a new batch of all-terrain vehicles, including military models, to Russia’s Arctic for testing in extreme conditions. The tests aim to assess their performance in cold, snow, and rough terrain. Vityaz produces articulated tracked carriers like the DT-10, DT-20, and DT-30, designed to transport heavy loads across challenging environments. Military variants, such as the DT-30PM, feature reinforced chassis and weapon mounts. These vehicles play a key role in moving troops and equipment across remote areas, including in the Arctic and conflict zones like Ukraine.