As GM Authority covered previously, GM Defense recently announced that it had delivered the first unit of the new GM Infantry Squad Vehicle (GM ISV) to the U.S Army following a lock on a $214.3 million government contract awarded to General Motors in June. During a media event in October celebrating the first delivery announcement, GM Defense President, David Albritton, hinted that GM’s military division was considering expanding into non-land vehicles as well.
GM ISV pictured here.
“We also aren’t just looking at ground vehicles,” Albritton said during the media event. “So if you think how the U.S. Navy is thinking about alternative propulsion systems for unmanned underwater vehicles, you can look at a battery, you know lithium ion battery as a propulsion systems or a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.”
So far, nothing official has been announced. Nevertheless, it’s clear that GM Defense is considering expansion in a number of different directions.
Colorado ZH2 concept pictured here.
Indeed, this isn’t the first time the division has suggested the use of alternative propulsion systems for a military application. For example, back in 2016, GM Defense produced the hydrogen-powered Chevy Colorado ZH2 concept, a fuel-cell-powered version of the Colorado ZR2 off-road pickup truck. Although the ZH2 did not result in a major government contract, General Motors’ military division is clearly exploring new and interesting ideas.
In the more immediate future, GM Defense is set to build, field, and sustain the new Chevy Colorado-based ISV, which utilizes some 90 percent commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), including the Colorado ZR2’s MultiMatic DSSV dampers and several Chevrolet Performance race components (although the GM ISV uses unique suspension tuning, as GM Authority exclusively covered previously).
GM ISV pictured here.
The GM ISV is designed for rapid battlefield deployment of a nine-Soldier infantry squad and their gear, and is small enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The ISV also comes with unique mounting points that enable it be to sling-loaded underneath a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.
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Comments
This is it! GM should return to defense contractor business, they have a huge portfolio of technologies that can easily apply to a wide array of military product.
all mary has to do is rub joes leg hair
Now that’s uncalled for. Everybody knows Joey shaves his legs.
These vehicles need to be branded better. They all need to sport an emblem showing the bow tie with a block “USA” on its facing. Use LARGE letters!
Tooling around on a base they would be ok but in combat they offer no protection.
What’s the scabby E-stop button for?