The amphibious Vikings are armoured, all terrain vehicles capable of operating anywhere in the world in temperatures from -46oC to 49oC, and were selected for their ability to be deployed in jungle, desert or arctic conditions quickly.
A fleet of 108 Viking have been bought for the Royal Marines following a gruelling two-year trial and development programme.
The first prototype Viking vehicles were delivered in June 2001. The vehicles successfully completed a 24-month series of trials in Norway, the UK, Sweden and Oman. In Norway, the vehicle successfully completed a winter deployment inside the Arctic Circle.
In September 2001, Vikings were transported to Oman and took part in Exercise SAIF SAREEA 2, where full operational testing was carried out in the extreme hot and dry desert
