GM Defense To Provide Suburban Shield Units To Qatar Armed Forces

GM Defense has confirmed that it’s providing Suburban Shield SUVs to the Qatar Armed Forces and Special Forces Command. They’ll be used for “protected diplomatic security and VIP transport.”

Although a GM Defense product, the Suburban Shield is not necessarily intended for combat. It’s essentially an armored version of the Chevy Suburban with an upgraded HD chassis and revised suspension to handle the extra weight that comes with the armored materials and any other special cargo that might be onboard in a given application. GM’s 6.2L V8 L87 is the standard engine, and the Duramax 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel is optional. Standard features include 4-wheel drive, leather seats (heated in front), 3-row seating for eight, and an 8-inch infotainment system.

“GM Defense’s next-generation Suburban Shield offers the Qatar Armed Forces unrivaled performance thanks to GM’s advanced technologies,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. “We engineered the Suburban Shield from the ground up as a protected vehicle using GM’s world-class process and tools to deliver the reliability and quality expected from a GM vehicle. We’re confident the vehicle will help the Qatar Armed Forces effectively carry out their important diplomatic security missions and are excited to see Suburban Shield introduce a new level of sophistication to protected vehicles in the region.”

The Suburban Shield is also in service for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. State Department. In addition to transporting diplomats and other VIPs, the Suburban Shield is used for military personnel transport, disaster response, and border security.

“Our OEM-provided solution benefits from GM’s world-class technologies, engineering and validation capabilities, and global quality management systems that traditional defense contractors don’t offer,” said Bradley Watters, vice president of international business development for GM Defense. “With Suburban Shield, GM Defense delivers a one-of-a-kind solution that outperforms previous generation vehicles. We’re proud to offer this capability to the Qatar Armed Forces that will help replace their legacy platforms.”