The GM Defense ISV – or Infantry Squad Vehicle – is military-grade truck based on the Chevy Colorado ZR2 pickup truck. As such, the ISV uses 90 percent commercial-off-the-shelf components, including Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers, and is powered by the 2.8L LWN I4 turbo diesel baby Duramax engine. And on this episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay gets to put the army-approved machine through its paces.
Jay is also joined by Steve duMont, who was appointed president of GM Defense back in May. Steve gives Mr. Leno the lowdown on the ISV, offering interesting tidbits and clarification, including the fact that it can run off of JP-8 (Jet Propellant 8) fuel, which means the ISV can use the same vehicle as the apache helicopters that deploy them into combat zones.
For those who may not be familiar with the product, designed to provide rapid ground mobility, the ISV is a light and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to transport a nine-Soldier infantry squad moving throughout the battlefield. But the ISV must also be light enough, weighing 5,000 pounds or less, to be sling loaded from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for air transportability.
GM competed with other defense companies to win the ISV contract, with the U.S. Army selecting the ISV over other similar design proposals from Oshkosh and Polaris. The Army has set an acquisition objective of 2,065 vehicles for its Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, with the first batch of 649 units provided at a cost of $214.3 million.
While the first units were built at a GM facility in Michigan, regular production takes place at the GM Defense plant in North Carolina. In addition to producing the diesel-powered GM Defense ISV, the subsidiary also recently developed a new all-electric ISV concept – dubbed the All Electric Concept Vehicle – which we previously overviewed in side-by-side comparison with the ICE variant. As of this writing, the GM Defense ISV Electric Concept is still just a concept, and the subsidiary has not confirmed whether or not it will enter production.
As we mentioned, the first 649 units of the ISV came at a cost of $214.3 million. And while some quick math would suggest that each unit costs $330,200 – based on the $214.3 million contract that procured the initial 649 units – GM Defense has gone on the record to say that this isn’t a strictly accurate figure. As such, actual GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle pricing remains a mystery.
To see what sort of capability those tax dollars afford our military personnel, hit play on the embedded video below and watch Jay put the GM Defense ISV through its paces.
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Comments
Don’t give it too Joe Biden as the Taliban will end up with it. Cool vehicle for sure.
Rather the taliban get these then our blackhawks and advanced armored vehicles! If they had these all open war fighting vehicles would make the easy targets!
Yep…..FJB “Let’s go Brandon” !!!
Cool vehicle. Ditch the silly, asinine EV idea for it which is a total waste of taxpayer’s dollars. Not many “recharging stations” on the battlefield and no time to wait around while a lithium battery recharges either.
Please Jay go away.
Total and colossal waste of our taxpayer money! It’s hilarious to listen to this GM executive try to sell this thing for something it obviously will not be able to do. Get infantry into the battle field quickly and safely? Yeah right. First, it is anything but fast, couldn’t even do a doughnut on pavement, only dirt, and that was pathetic. All open, leaving any of the soldiers totally exposed to anything. Didn’t we learn anything from the 20+ years spent in the middle east? Like IEDs ripping through and launching armored Humvees, devastating those inside them? That is why MRAPs were created. And the cost, being that it is “90%” reuse of the commercial ZR2. The other statement, using advance chrome moly 4130 to create the roll cage, leveraging advancements from our racing industry. LOL, that’s only been in use since say the 50’s, look it up. Only way this thing works is if it is a “drone” type vehicle with lots of remote controlled fire power.
The taliban will love it!
F the demz
Well done. Glad to see it equipped with a diesel engine.
This is not to do the job of a Hummer.
This is to insert the troops fast from where they are dropped to to the target in a surprise attack. It is a short term use vehicles.
This is to bring the troops to a surprise attack faster vs just walking in.
This is the next step of lighting attack.
They may base other vehicles on this but this version is only to be light, quick and discarded after they are in the fight.
In the past dirt bikes and small dune buggies had been used but they only carry a couple troops at best.
GM built it to what the government wanted not what GM wanted.
It is a bigger Jeep.
Hendrick Motorsports did a great job on these…
For those wondering why it doesn’t have IED protection or doors, it’s not a Humvee replacement meant for basic transport. It’s more comparable to an upgraded dune buggy designed for off-road use. Think of special forces that have to insert into hostile territory, conduct a mission, and then extract — all within a span of minutes. An EV is even better because it offers silent performance that a diesel can’t (civilian EVs produce annoying sounds by law for the blind; military versions won’t need this). This helps spec-ops get closer to their target before disembarking. Range isn’t as important because this is an intermediary mode of transport and the military wants to limit the vehicle phase since it’s vulnerable. The GM employee spoke of it being airdropped by parachute. This is a great way to insert special forces.
The GM official didn’t do a very good job of selling this to Leno, but perhaps he couldn’t speak of these qualities in public.
A skinny-jean CEO?? It doesn’t look groundbreaking. Wonder what the Polaris and Oshkosh look like? And $334,000 per vehicle? You can double or triple that.
Ok I have questions
They sell off the plant that built the 2.8 diesel
They discontinue the diesel for the Colorado
Did they keep a bunch of these engines to fulfill this contract
And don’t forget about parts needed to keep these going.
I think discontinuing the diesel for GM Mid sized trucks was a major mistake by GM.
As gas prices go through the roof the diesel was amazing at getting great mpg……
My problem with this ISV is that its not Vee hulled for mine/IED resistance.