US Army Greenlights GM Defense for Infantry Squad Vehicle Project with FRP Approval
GM Defense LLC, a division of General Motors, announced today that the U.S. Army has granted a full-rate production decision for the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). GM Defense acquired the initial $214.3 million contract to engineer the lightweight and versatile all-terrain troop transport designed to carry a nine-Soldier infantry unit and their gear in June 2020.
“I am proud of the GM Defense crew for achieving this significant milestone in the Infantry Squad Vehicle initiative, and I express my gratitude for the strong partnership we have cultivated with our dependable U.S. Army program office client,” stated Steve duMont, President of GM Defense. “Securing the ISV full-rate production decision enhances our reputation and underscores the success of our manufacturing capabilities. By collaborating closely with our customer, we have supplied over 300 vehicles to our U.S. Army client, with many already deployed to the Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.”
The ISV is constructed on the award-winning Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck framework and utilizes 90 percent commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components, including Chevrolet Performance racing parts. Weighing in at 5,000 pounds, the expeditionary ISV is lightweight enough to be sling-loaded from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for air mobility. The vehicle’s high level of COTS components offers global defense and government clients the agility and versatility needed to outmaneuver threats and adapt to changing mission demands.
“Our adaptability during the pursuit of the ISV allowed us to secure the initial phases of the contract award and has subsequently been vital in delivering the optimal value solution to the U.S. Army,” remarked Rick Kewley, Vice President of Product Development and Advanced Engineering at GM Defense. “Not only did customer insights enhance the ISV at a rapid pace, but they also enabled us to leverage the engineering and manufacturing expertise from our parent company, General Motors, to integrate new functionalities while meeting the Army’s specifications and performance criteria. We remain optimistic about our capacity to achieve higher production volumes in the future.”
GM Defense has showcased the versatility of the ISV by evolving the original nine-passenger troop carrier into a diverse family of vehicles. The GM Defense-manufactured ISV variants provide customizable configurations tailored for a wide array of mission profiles, including fire support, command and control, electronic warfare, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, reconnaissance, logistics, and casualty evacuation.
The ISV represents the first substantial award for GM Defense since the subsidiary was reestablished by its parent company in 2017.
