General Dynamics in partnership to develop all-terrain vehicles to defend Arctic sovereignty

General Dynamics will partner with BAE Systems to build an Arctic all-terrain vehicle. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell explains.

London, Ont.’s General Dynamics Land Systems is involved in a new partnership to develop an all-terrain vehicle to help defend Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic.

It’s called the Beowulf – a dual body all-terrain vehicle designed for extreme Arctic environments.

GDLS has teamed with global defence manufacturer BAE Systems to offer the BvS10 Beowulf platform for the Canadian army’s Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement Project (DAME).

Kapil Lakotia, president and CEO of the London Economic Development Corporation, says it reinforces London as a major player in defence manufacturing.

“It’s a great announcement today, and an important step in ensuring long term sustainability of our defence cluster,” said Lakhotia.

In a news release, BAE Systems says the platform ensures long-term availability of spare parts and support for the Canadian armed forces, along with interoperability with military units across North America.

Lakhotia says this bodes well for General Dynamics, which currently employs 1,700 people in London.

“In London region, land-based defence systems, with all the innovations at GDLS, Armatech, research and development capacity at Western University and Fanshawe College, and a whole host of suppliers - we are well poised for further growth,” Lakotia said.

GDLS has not revealed the financial value for the Beowulf project. The federal government’s new budget includes $81.8 billion in defence spending over five years.