BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold recently caught up for a pre-DSEI Zoom meeting with the GM Defense team.
GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), has broadened the offerings of its Vehicle Division from armoured limousines to light 4×4 all-terrain vehicles, starting with the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) to the Next Generation Tactical Vehicle launched at AUSA in 2024.
Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)
The ISV is a U.S. Army program of record awarded to GM Defense and developed to meet validated Army requirements. With robust off-road capabilities, the highly reliable ISV significantly improves tactical mobility across a range of military operations. The vehicle is easily maintainable and highly adaptable to meet diverse mission and operational needs.
The nine-passenger Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform and features 90 percent Commercial-Off-The-Shelf parts, including components from Chevrolet Performance that strengthen the vehicle’s off-road capabilities.
The ISV is uniquely engineered and sized to fulfill U.S. Army requirements for rapid deployment. Offering high performance, reliability and safety upon arrival and mission employment, the ISV is a versatile, expeditionary, ultra-light tactical vehicle that can be inserted on the battlefield through C-17, C-130 and A-400M low-velocity air drop, as an internal load in a CH/MH-47 Chinook and CH-53E/K Super/King Stallion or as a sling-load under a UH-60 Blackhawk.
The ISV can be customized with ‘kits’ that meet specific customer requirements to enhance vehicle capabilities. In addition, GM Defense has invested in the design and production of diverse kits to support the broad range of mission requirements for a variety of general purpose and special operations forces. These modular and tailorable kits can be integrated across the ISV family of vehicles to support diverse use cases.
The ISV is now integrated into the US Army inventory with over 1500 vehicles delivered.
The international marketing campaign for the ISV is underway and a number of key orders and agreements cemented. The ISV is attracting attraction from a number of key NATO countries including the UK.
In July 2023 GM Defense Canada, a subsidiary of GM Defense, was awarded a C$35.8 million contract by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for 90 light tactical vehicles (LTVs), with an option to procure up to an additional 18 LTVs. GM Defense Canada will also deliver training, technical manuals and additional vehicle content sourced from Canadian companies.
As part of the contract, GM Defense Canada is providing both nine-passenger LTVs and a new utility variant of the LTVs that leverage the design of a proven solution currently fielded with the U.S. Army. GM Defense Canada’s LTVs will support the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Multinational Battlegroup in Latvia. The vehicles will enable Soldiers to move with increased speed, range and safety across complex terrain.
GM Defense Canada’s light tactical vehicle solutions are based on the mid-size architecture of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, featuring a high percentage of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) parts, including Chevrolet Performance components for enhanced off-road capability. Weighing less than 5000 pounds / 2232 kilograms, the light and agile tactical vehicles offer air transportability, in addition to ease of maintenance and sustainment with parts that may be accessed through GM’s global supply chain. Reliable and easy to operate, the light tactical vehicles also include active and passive safety features, meeting CAF requirements for performance and safety.
Following on from its success in Canada on February 18th 2025, EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defense groups, and GM Defense announced an agreement to assess projects focusing on light tactical vehicles for customers in the Middle East, Africa, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Under terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, GM Defense, a General Motors subsidiary, would work with NIMR Automotive, an arm of EDGE, on potential opportunities. The agreement was announced at the International Defense Exhibition & Conference 2025, taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Next Generation Tactical Vehicle
GM Defense unveiled its new “Next Gen” tactical vehicle prototype at AUSA 2024. Based on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD ZR2 truck, the rugged and durable Next Gen combines GM’s 2.8L Duramax® turbo-diesel engine with a 12-module battery pack, in addition to drive motors for the front and rear axles that enable Silent Drive and Silent Watch, technologies that make the vehicles harder to detect.
The technologies enable stealthy ingress and egress through high threat zones, with onboard power to support high-energy-demand sensors, shooters, and Soldier kit. The vehicles offer active and passive safety features, including roll-over protection, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, four- and five-point seat belt harnesses, and 360-degree camera capabilities.
Next Gen offers the following tactical advantages:
- Silent Drive and Silent Watch, enabling low acoustic and thermal signatures;
- Exportable power capable of charging mission systems;
- Tactically significant range with extended mission duration;
- Designed to be autonomy-ready with manned and unmanned options; and
- Add-on armor capable.
In addition, Next Gen provides sustainment benefits, including:
- Fuel demand reduction;
- The ability to use existing JP8 fuel infrastructure;
- Lower maintenance requirements from reduced parts and subsystems in the overall propulsion system; and
- Reduced logistics tail for fuel, batteries, and vehicle parts.
Next Gen is offered in two-, four-, and six-seat configurations. The vehicle will be optimized to support multi-mission capabilities, including command and control, launched effects, network extension, counter unmanned aerial systems anti-armor, casualty evacuation, and other critical missions.
In January 2025 two versions of the ‘Next Gen’ featured in a joint exercise in Germany. The 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, is familiarizing itself with many different technologies, including the ‘Next Gen’ and Light Tactical Utility Vehicle as part of Transformation in Contact exercises at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany.
The exercise, ‘Combined Resolve,’ hosted by U.S. Army Europe-Africa, from 17 Jan -16 Feb hosted 16 other countries and around 4,000 people from NATO Allies and European partners.
GM Defense Announced a Teaming with NP Aerospace at DSEI 2023
In September 2023, during DSEI, GM Defense LLC and NP Aerospace signed a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop cooperative research and development, post-production support, and global logistics and sustainment for integrated vehicles, power and propulsion, autonomy and connectivity, fuel cell, power generation, system integration and platform integration. Company leaders signed the MOU during the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2023. The MOU enables GM Defense to deliver military solutions more effectively, like the light and agile ISV, to global defense and government customers. Based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture, the ISV features 90 percent commercial-off-the-shelf parts, including Chevrolet Performance components, adapted to meet U.S. Army requirements. GM Defense expanded on the ISV program of record to develop the ISV Family of Vehicles, which includes variants designed to support diverse mission use cases and meet future customer demand. The business is also developing a purpose-built Heavy-Duty armored Sport Utility Vehicle (HD SUV) solution, an armored HD architecture that is gaining interest among international defense and government customers to meet global protection missions.
“The UK has shown considerable interest in the ISV particularly for the LMV requirement for the Pinzgauer replacement for 16th Air Assault Brigade. Given the colder and wetter weather conditions in the UK and Europe, the UK MoD has asked for added protection and enclosures. The roll-over capability of the vehicle was recently proven when a vehicle rolled over on exercise and the only injury was a sprained ankle for the driver.” Braddley Watters, European Sales Director said.
In 2025 GM Defense announced a broadening of its teaming with NP Aerospace to pursue the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) requirements as part of the Land Mobility Programme (LMP). The team will also address broader opportunities across NATO and allied nations.
LMV is intended to replace aging vehicles with a Common Based Platform and is part of the LMP, which is a broader initiative by the British Army to modernize and consolidate its vehicle fleet.
“Our objective is to deliver the next generation of mobility solutions for the UK with speed, efficiency, and enhanced capabilities by leveraging GM’s extensive investments in mobility R&D, product development, and manufacturing. This is now coupled with NP Aerospace’s expertise in armor manufacturing, technology integration, vehicle maintenance and support,” said GM Defense President Steve duMont. “Together, we will deliver innovative solutions to the British Army, demonstrating our commitment to provide the best capability to our NATO alliance partners.”
With facilities in Coventry, UK and London, Ontario, Canada, NP Aerospace offers access to localized design and tailored content, with the ability to deliver solutions for global defense and government customers. GM Defense will leverage NP Aerospace’s expertise to pursue both the UK LMV Programme and Canadian Armed Forces’ Light Utility Vehicle and Light Forces Enhancement programs.
“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 defence markets,” said NP Aerospace CEO James Kempston. “The LMV Programme is designed to deliver much needed fleet modernization and wider economic growth as part of the Land Industrial Strategy.”
GM Defense and NP Aerospace have been collaborating to develop cooperative research and development, post-production support, and global logistics and sustainment for various projects since 2023. The companies will showcase advanced technologies at defense exhibitions later this year.
Conclusion
GM Defense has started from a clean sheet integrating rugged civil 4×4 technology into a militarised chassis supported by advanced hybrid drive and electronics systems.
GM Defense has recognized Hendrick Motorsports for its efforts in supporting the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), a troop transporter currently fielded to the U.S. Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. Hendrick Motorsports, the provider of the chrome-moly steel exoskeleton for the ISV’s Roll Over Protection System, supports enhanced Soldier safety and helps the GM Defense-led team deliver next generation military mobility solutions to our U.S. Army customer. In addition the vehicles’ capabilities are enhanced by JVs with a number of key technology suppliers such as Mistral and Anduril to produce a versatile and advanced range of the vehicles from Command Post through weapons carriers to C-UAS vehicles, thus producing the most advanced range of military light vehicles on the world market
A video of the vehicle on exercise is on the BATTLESPACE website.