Army testing GM Defense hybrid vehicle prototype in Germany

Soldiers are driving around GM Defense's hybrid, next generation tactical vehicle prototype for the next month at a joint military exercise in Germany, according to an Army press release.

The NGTV-H is the vendor’s answer to the Army’s future battlefield concerns, providing capabilities like silent watch, silent drive and over 300kw of total power, John ‘JD’ Johnson, vice president of business and development for GM Defense, told Inside Defense before the Association of the United States Army’s annual trade show in October.

“It’s what the Army is looking for, as far as replacing its dated systems, i.e. the humvee and some of the other systems that they have,” Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chavez, one of the soldiers who has been testing out the vehicle, said in a Jan. 22 video.

The NGTV-H’s stealth and energy on demand from its mobile power station is important, Chavez said, because “the Army’s not getting away from batteries.” In fact, the need for power is only growing, and “this thing can withstand that.”

Combined Resolve, hosted by U.S. Army Europe-Africa, is underway at the Army’s Hohenfels Training Area in Bavaria. Designed to strengthen ties between the countries and bolster deterrence for adversaries, the exercise hosts 16 other countries and around 4,000 people from NATO Allies and European partners. It officially began Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 16.

While there’s no program of record thus far for the NGTV-H, it’s being tested as part of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George’s “Transformation in Contact,” where the service pairs soldiers with commercial-off-the-shelf technology to get instant feedback and field systems quicker. Chavez is part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, one of the first three brigades selected to participate in George’s initiative.

In October, George announced the second phase of “Transformation in Contact,” which involves adding two armored BCTs, two Stryker BCTs and more formations in the National Guard and reserves.

Another short video clip posted by the Army shows the NGTV-H quietly bobbing through off-road bumps and cruising over a washboard road.

“This thing is completely silent,” Chavez said. “You wouldn’t know -- I’ve also tested it just creeping up on people behind them, and they had to turn around like, ‘Oh my god, there’s a whole truck behind me.’ It’s that stealthy.”