GM Defense has just been awarded a nearly quarter-billion-dollar contract.

GM Defense will build a new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) for the U.S. Army. The ISV is a light and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to transport a nine-Soldier infantry squad moving throughout the battlefield. It was designed to provide rapid ground mobility. The ISV is light enough to be sling-loaded from a Blackhawk helicopter and small enough to fit inside a Chinook helicopter for air transportability. GM will build 2,065 ISV vehicles on a contract worth $214.3 million.

The ISV leverages 90 percent commercial off-the-shelf parts. GM says the vehicle is based around the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture. If you are a fan of the ZR2 you will recognize some of the key parts of the ISV, such as the Multimatic dual spool-valve dampers. GM has proven the durability and performance of those components in the grueling Best in the Desert race series. Fans of diesel trucks will recognize the Colorado’s 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel engine, and six-speed automatic transmission used in the ISV.

“Winning this Army award is well-deserved recognition for the hard work and dedication of our GM Defense team and their production of a fantastic vehicle. We are confident the GMD ISV will meet and exceed all of our customers’ requirements,” said David Albritton, president of GM Defense. “It’s indeed an honor to leverage our parent company’s experience as one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers to design, build and deliver the best technologies available to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and our allies.”

GM Defense partnered with Ricardo Defense in 2019 after the U.S. Army awarded three $1 million contracts to competing industry providers to develop ISV prototypes for testing, evaluation, and down-selection for the production contract. “Ricardo’s experience with military fleet readiness, performance, and sustainment combined with GM’s expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and product quality at scale creates a powerful team that is able to meet and exceed the Army’s demands for this platform,” said GM Defense president David Albritton.

Ricardo Defense will handle key product logistics and fielding requirements of the ISV. “The entire Ricardo team is proud to continue our work with GM Defense on the ISV contract, and to provide our infantry troops in harm’s way with this highly-capable, and much needed vehicle,” said Chet Gryczan, president of Ricardo Defense. “Being awarded the ISV program is a testament to Ricardo’s success in developing and delivering key integrated product logistics and life-cycle sustainment plans for our customers’ top priorities. The ISV will showcase the speed at which the Army can rapidly produce, field and sustain new equipment by leveraging a proven commercially available vehicle and the global supply chain infrastructure of General Motors, supported by Ricardo.”

One strength GM brings to the table in any defense contract is its world class manufacturing efficiencies, proven simplicity of maintenance, and a well-established global supply chain. GM Defense is leveraging the best-in-class capabilities of General Motors for unmatched innovation, proven performance, and breakthrough life-cycle economics to built the ISV for the Army.

Images and facts courtesy of GM and Ricardo Media support.