Army approves GM Defense for ISV full-rate production

The Army has awarded GM Defense the full-rate production contract for the Infantry Squad Vehicle, the company announced on Wednesday.

The ISV is the Army’s newest light tactical vehicle and is modeled after the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 pickup truck architecture, according to the service. It can carry a nine-soldier infantry squad, can be sling-loaded from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and can fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, according to the service.

The Army awarded the ISV contract to GM Defense in June 2020 with a total award value of $214.3 million to procure 649 ISVs, and an eventual acquisition objective of 2,065 vehicles, Inside Defense reported at the time.

According to the Army, the Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support gave the green light on March 30 to transition the program to full rate production, with the acquisition objective now 2,593 ISVs.

The Army said in a statement that the decision “represents a major Army acquisition programmatic milestone in ‘motorizing’ Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Security Force Assistance Brigades, as well as Army Ranger units.”

GM Defense President Steve duMont said in a statement Wednesday that the company has delivered more than 300 ISVs to the Army, with many having already been fielded to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.