When a vehicle looks right, it is right! That was the first thought that crossed the Editor’s mind when he saw the GM Defense Infantry Support Vehicle (ISV) at the 2022 Eurosatory Exhibition. It had ‘Pinzgauer Replacement’ written all over it, a point the Editor made his views clear to GM Defense.
In 2022 the ISV was a single variant vehicle, a 9 seater prime mover for the rapid deployment of airborne forces from Drop Zones, thus perfect for the paras of 16th Air Assault Brigade, which recently conducted trials of the vehicle with their US counterparts at Project Convergence 24 and 25. However, to qualify for the Pinzgauer and Wolf replacement the ISV would have to develop in to a family of vehicles running from WIMIK, gun tractor, troop carrier, missile carrier. C-UAS vehicle, general cargo and comms systems carrier as well as being air transportable in and underslung from a helicopter, all achieved.
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 fulfil UK 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 of 2 inside and 2 underslung 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. GM Defense has had the following integrated; loitering munitions from Anduril and Mistral, CUAS systems including High Energy Lasers and EW Jammers, 120mm and 81mm Mortar systems, etc.
The ISV is now integrated into the US Army inventory.
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 as well as Canada where a contract is being fulfilled.
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 has broadened the offerings of its Vehicle Division from armoured Suburban Shield to light 4×4 all-terrain vehicles, starting with the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) to the ISV-Heavy launched at AUSA in 2024.
Team LionStrike Ride and Drive Day
On November 14th Team LionStrike, a team established between GM Defense, BAE Systems, and NP Aerospace demonstrated their light vehicle line up in UK, for the first time in the UK, at a VIP and media Ride and Drive event.
Showcased to invited guests at the Millbrook Proving Ground, the demonstrated vehicles are being offered to meet the requirements of the UK MoD’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) and specifically, the lighter General Support Utility Platform (GSUP) and Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) requirements, expected to be selected in late 2026.
Team LionStrike was announced in early September 2025 followed by the GM Defense GSUP vehicle being revealed on static display at the UK DSEI exhibition later that month. Now, for the first time in UK, guests and media have had the opportunity to ride and drive and see all three variants up close and in detail. Demonstrated were three proven, Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) light and utility military vehicles:
- GSUP – based on the Chevrolet S10 Work Truck, delivering capacity for 4 crew, flexible and modular cab/utility configurations, 207HP diesel, and a payload of 1116 kg. Same engine as the ISV.
- Silverado 1500 ZR2 – a light duty, more powerful variant delivering capacity for 5 crew, flexible and modular cab/utility configurations, 305HP diesel, and payload of 705kg.
- Infantry Squad Vehicle- Utility (ISV-U) – based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform, delivering capacity for up to 5 crew, open-top utility and tactical configurations.
All three demonstrated vehicles are backed by Team LionStrike, which is focused on offering the UK MoD a mobility solution to rapidly modernise its wheeled vehicle fleet. Team LionStrike will deliver economic growth as part of the Land Industrial Strategy, and significant export growth potential. Team LionStrike is building a sustainable supply chain and delivery ecosystem in the UK. LionStrike will be supported by GM’s leading UK team members, NP Aerospace and BAE Systems and is also anchored by GM’s worldwide parts distribution system.
J.D. Johnson, vice president of GM Defense Government Solutions and Strategy, said it was an “honour” for GM Defense and its U.K.-based LionStrike team members to demonstrate their COTS-based platforms at Millbrook to invited guests.
“I truly believe that what makes Team LionStrike different is the fact that GM, with our history and proven capability, is embedded into the procurement and support solutions offered here, as the vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM),” Johnson said. “Having the OEM so intimately involved provides capability, efficiencies and crucial assurance, confidence and support to the U.K. Armed Forces, through life.”
Johnson added that the company is “very proud of what our Team LionStrike strategy and plan will bring to U.K. industry, U.K. economy and potentially, future U.K. exports.” He concluded by drawing a line from history to the present: “As we’ve prepared for this event we have been able to look back and note with pride the level of support and involvement Chevrolet and GMC trucks played in the British military campaigns dating back to World War II. That successful heritage firmly underpins what we’ve been demonstrating here today.”
The BATTTLESPACE Drive
Having identified that the ISV and its rugged pickup cousins look the part, the next stage is to prove if they drive as good as they look!
The GM Defense ISV (Infantry Squad Vehicle) specs include a 2.8L Duramax turbo diesel engine, a 6L50 6-speed transmission, and a 2-speed AutoTrac transfer case. It has a payload of 3,200 pounds (1,450 kg), a kerb weight of over 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), and can carry nine soldiers and their equipment. The vehicle is designed for high mobility with upgraded suspension and other components from the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, and is air transportable by a UH-60 Black Hawk or CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
Millbrook Proving Ground features a wide array of test track obstacles and terrains, designed to simulate diverse real-world conditions for vehicle testing and development.
The Editor has driven many and varied vehicles round the Millbrook test track from the excellent NAVISTAR Defense Husky thru the Oshkosh JLTV, as a passenger, to, at the bottom of the scale, two (unnamed!) vehicles, one of which caught fire and the other which could not get up the steep slopes without the passengers disembarking.
Thus, Millbrook makes or breaks a vehicles in its voyage to MoD acceptance.
The ISV has the benefit of large engine, a light but durable chassis with a payload capability of 2.5 tonnes linked to a 6-speed transmission with a suspension system with a mix of leaf and coil springs which give the axles maximum articulations over the rough terrains encountered on the track. As part of the ISV Mid Cycle Enhancement the UK will have an upgraded 8 speed transmission.
In the drive period and later the demonstration over the 3-metre-deep mortar holes the ISV passed with flying colures and proved its versatility and speed over all terrains it encountered on the drive. Tye 4 diff locks can be engaged at seconds notice when difficult terrain or hills are encountered giving huge versatility and, crucially the ability to avoid any roads where IEDs have been spotted, to divert to a cross-country route.
- The Editor took the vehicle through various obstacles and hills including:
- Wading Pond
- Gravel Hills and Roads
- Sand Hills and Roads
- Ditches(deep, concrete, and ditch runs)
- Severe Axle Twist
- Mortar Holes (as a passenger)
- 25° Traverse(side slope)
- Rock Climb
After the drive the ISV was demonstrated on the Millbrook knife edge and the 1 metre mortar holes which it encountered and passed with no difficulty with the Editor as a passenger.
Having satisfied himself that the ISV was the vehicle for the required battlefield tasks, the Editor took the wheel of the Silverado 1500 ZR2 which showed similar excellent performance with a good deep growling powerful 305HP engine.
Team LionStrike Benefits
GM Defense has the benefit of being part of the huge multi-national GM empire and thus access to all the advanced technologies, as well as via the new Formula 1 team launched this year, and logistic parts support to support the vehicles anywhere in the world as well as access to new and developing technologies thru a Post Design Service contract; thus GM Defense is the only true vehicle OEM that is known to be bidding. All other bidders are taking someone else’s vehicle and modifying it, with very little or no buy in from the OEM. This is a massive discriminator as through life support is compromised if the OEM buy-in is not part of the original package, and to have the OEM as the prime contractor is truly unique. It 100% underwrites all of the modifications that will be/may be required, to meet the requirements, from a root source engineering position. This is a big advantage as over the years history has demonstrated that military vehicle fleets not supported by the OEM soon fall over and to employ a 3rd party to perform that OEM engineering function is not cost effective.
Infantry Squad Vehicle – Heavy (ISV-H)
As well as the Team LionStrike offering to the UK MoD, GM Defense has the benefit of being able to offer its ISV-Heavy prototype, unveiled at AUSA 2024. Based on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD ZR2 truck, the rugged and durable ISV-H 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.
ISV-H 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, ISV-H 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.
ISV-H 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 ISV-H 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.
Conclusion
The lineup of teams offering the LMV vehicles for the UK requirement will be on show at DVD 2026 where we will see all the vehicles being put through their paces and be allowed to drive them to compare with what we saw at Millbrook.
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.
Having looked at all the contenders offerings at DSEI, the Editor would certainly put Team LionStrike in the top 3. Leaving apart the pickup offerings, there is no other vehicle in the line up that can compete for the Pinzgauer replacement for 16 Air Assault Brigade and other roles such as gun tractor than the ISV, the Editor is looking forward to another drive at DVD,
A video of the Team LionStrike Drive day is on the BATTLESPACE website www.battle-technology.com