GM has just delivered its first Colorado ZR2-based Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISV).
Just four months after earning a contract from the U.S. Army, GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, is celebrating the first delivery of the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).
“One hundred and twenty days from contract award to delivery is a significant milestone, and I am very proud of the team for this accomplishment,” said David Albritton, president of GM Defense. “We’re leveraging General Motors’ engineering prowess and immense manufacturing capabilities to bring transformative solutions to the military vehicle market. Our initial success with the ISV shows our commitment to our customer and highlights our unique right to win in the military mobility market.”
Fans of GM-Trucks.com can clearly see that the ISV is based on the segment-leading Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture. GM leveraged 90 percent proven commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts, including Chevrolet Performance race components. The ISV is a light and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to transport a nine-Soldier infantry squad and their equipment. The 5,000-pound truck was engineered to provide rapid ground mobility. And many times, that starts with a trip in the air. The expeditionary ISV is light enough to be sling-loaded from a Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook.
“The value we bring to our Army customer is our willingness to listen and adapt,” said Mark Dickens, GM Defense chief engineer. “During Soldier testing, the feedback we received was paramount in delivering a vehicle that met Soldiers’ needs, while maximizing safety and performance and taking their comfort into consideration. The production ISV we’re delivering today is an evolution from our original prototype design, and it’s certainly a vehicle that is a source of pride for the team.”
The delivery is part of the $214.3 million contract the U.S. Army awarded GM Defense in June. 649 ISVs will be built on this contract, and the contract has provisions for 2,065 vehicles to be added with additional authorization over eight years. The ISV contract represents the first major award and delivery for GM Defense since the subsidiary was reestablished by its parent company in 2017.