GM Defense And NP Aerospace Looking At UK And NATO Business Opportunities

GM Defense, General Motors’ military-focused subsidiary, is looking to expand its international footprint through a strategic collaboration with armor technology manufacturer and vehicle integrator NP Aerospace. The partnership will target new military vehicle opportunities with the United Kingdom and various NATO allies, with a focus on the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) and broader Land Mobility Programme (LMP), which aims to modernize the British Army’s aging vehicle fleet.

As part of its LMV proposal, GM Defense is showcasing the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) and its utility variant, both of which are heavily based on the Chevy Colorado ZR2.

GM Defense was awarded the U.S. Army production contract to build, field, and sustain the new ISV in 2020, and the vehicle is already in service with the U.S. Army infantry, Special Operations Forces, and Canadian Armed Forces. Designed for rugged, off-road environments, the ISV is 90 percent commercial off-the-shelf parts, making it cost-effective, reliable, and easy to maintain.

This new partnership with NP Aerospace strengthens GM Defense’s pitch by incorporating localized production and long-term service. NP Aerospace, which operates facilities in both the UK and Canada, specializes in vehicle armor and in-service fleet support.

GM Defense President Steve duMont highlighted that the collaboration merges GM’s industrial manufacturing capabilities and innovation with NP Aerospace’s defense expertise. The result, he said, is a faster and more capable solution for allied forces seeking next-generation mobility.

“With decades of experience maintaining and upgrading global vehicle fleets, we are pleased to expand our teaming agreement with GM Defense to introduce new capabilities and innovation to UK and NATO defense markets,” said NP Aerospace CEO James Kempston.

GM Defense and NP Aerospace have collaborated on various projects since 2023, including cooperative research and development, post-production support, and global logistics. The two companies are expected to bring advanced new defense technologies to various defense exhibitions later in the year.