General Engines just got a $ 214.3 million contract with the US Army to build infantry squad vehicles, or ISVs. The machines, each capable of carrying up to nine troops, rely heavily on the Chevy Colorado ZR2 diesel, and is designed to provide “fast ground mobility”. Just look at this beast.
In your press release, General Engines He mentions that the US Army gave GM Defense LLC (a GM subsidiary) the contract to “build, deploy, and maintain the new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).” The automaker describes how the Army plans to use the Chevy Colorado ZR2 trucks, writing:
Designed to provide rapid ground mobility, the Expeditionary ISV is a lightweight and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to carry a squad of nine soldier infantry that moves across the battlefield. The ISV is light enough to load from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for air travel.
The $ 214.3 million contract covers the “Initial Army Acquisition Target” of 649 machines, while 2,065 of the ISVs have been approved as the “Army Acquisition Target”. If you’re wondering what those two terms mean, APO and AAO for short, here’s how How the Army Works: A Reference Manual for Seniors It defines them:
AAO is what the Army wants to achieve; APO is what the Army can achieve. The AAO is limited by several different mechanisms, the two main ones being the fiscal restriction and the projected obsolescence. When these factors are applied to the AAO, it reduces the number of items. This becomes the APO. Tax restrictions on acquisitions, in most cases, are caused by the limited availability of dollars for acquisitions to meet all Army requirements. Many systems are obtained in a reduced quantity for a longer period than originally planned. For when the availability of funds allows an item purchased at the AAO level, its replacement may be available for purchase.
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General Motors says the ISV is based on the architecture of the Colorado ZR2, and that 90 percent of parts for military troop carriers are “commercial” components. These include “Multimatic” shocks and Chevrolet Performance suspension bits.
Obviously, this truck looks nothing like a Colorado. This is because it has a “occupant and cargo superstructure” on top of a chassis that, according to a GM Defense spokesperson, is very similar to that of a Colorado ZR2 civilian. GM Defense designed that superstructure to meet the Army’s requirements for dimensions, seat layout, safety, weight, etc.
The front view shows a mesh grille located in front of an air-to-air intercooler for the Duramax 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine, which is bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine has been modified to make more power, according to Chevy rep Mark Dickens, who talks to TFL Truck in the following video. That’s a good thing, because the standard ZR2 diesel isn’t particularly fast, and the ISV, despite the lack of windows and doors, is probably not lighter than the civilian model (although we know, according to Dickens, that it comes in less than 5,000 pounds).
In the image above, you can also see the “Multimatic” shocks and Trail-Gear limit straps, whose job is to extend the life of the blows, preventing them from “filling up” to their full extent as the truck traverses uneven terrain at high speeds.
The tires are BF Goodrich Mud-Terrains wrapped around AEV wheels. Speaking of AEV components, that seems like a AEV differential skid plate on the rear axle (see below). Also, take a look at the rocker panels with the giant holes in them. They are a little “V”, although it does not seem that the entire helmet has a dramatic V shape as you would see in a MRAP (This shape offers explosive protection.) Interesting. Of course, the biggest problem is the lack of doors and windows.
You can also see in the image below some trusses to protect the shock absorbers, which are mounted quite low on the shaft.
GM Defense says that, in 2019, it partnered with Ricardo Defense after the Army awarded $ 1 million contracts to three competing companies to develop initial prototypes. Now things seem to be moving forward, with 649 of GM’s ISVs about to hit the hands of the Army.
It’s pretty impressive to see a military vehicle based on a civilian truck, and I bet it’s great publicity for GM.
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