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US Army Selects GM Defense to Provide Infantry Squad Vehicles for Tactical Operations.
GM Defense LLC, General Motors' defense subsidiary, has recently won a $44,884,510 contract to provide the U.S. Army with Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISV). The firm-fixed-price contract was awarded by the U.S. Army through the Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, and the estimated completion date is December 31, 2025.
The ISV is designed to meet the U.S. Army's tactical mobility requirements. (Picture source: GM Defense)
The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is designed to meet the U.S. Army's tactical mobility requirements. This ultra-light vehicle, based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform, is intended to enhance the mobility of troops during military operations on difficult terrains. With a capacity to transport nine passengers, it stands out for its robustness and exceptional off-road capabilities, allowing it to move efficiently across a wide range of operational conditions.
The ISV is easily maintainable thanks to its integration of 90% Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, including parts from Chevrolet Performance, which enhance its off-road performance. Its unique design makes it perfectly suited to rapid deployment requirements, enabling its insertion onto the battlefield by various aerial means, such as C-17, C-130, and A-400M aircraft, as well as internal loading in helicopters like the CH/MH-47 Chinook and CH-53E/K Super Stallion. The vehicle can also be transported as a sling-load under a UH-60 Blackhawk.
The ISV is a modular vehicle, with kits available to customize its capabilities for specific missions. These kits, developed to meet the diverse needs of general-purpose and special operations forces, offer exceptional flexibility in terms of adaptability. Among the available kits are equipment for Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC), mounts for heavy weapons such as the M240 or M2, and brackets for installing infrared lighting systems.
With its 2.8L Duramax turbo diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the ISV guarantees high performance and reliability. Its front and rear electronic locking differentials ensure better traction on varied surfaces, enabling the vehicle to traverse complex terrains while protecting its occupants with a rollover protection system. In summary, the ISV is a flexible vehicle, ready for rapid deployment and adapted to a variety of tactical missions.
In June 2020, GM Defense won an initial contract worth $214.3 million to develop and produce 649 ISVs, intended to be deployed within 11 infantry combat brigades. In April 2023, the U.S. Army approved full-rate production of the ISV, increasing the acquisition goal to 2,593 vehicles.
This new $44,884,510 contract is part of the ongoing acquisition of these vehicles, aimed at strengthening the mobility and efficiency of U.S. infantry units. The ISV offers rapid and flexible transport capability for an infantry squad of nine soldiers and their equipment, thus improving the responsiveness and operational capability of ground forces.