General Motors subsidiary GM Defense LLC has won a $214.3 million contract with the U.S. Army to build the new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).

Designed to provide rapid ground mobility, the expeditionary ISV is a light and agile troop carrier able to transport a nine-soldier infantry squad moving throughout the battlefield. The ISV is light enough to be sling loaded from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for air transportability.

All models are equipped with an occupant and cargo superstructure, masking the ISV’s origins quite well; actually, the Infantry Squad Vehicle is based on the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture.

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Actually, it leverages 90 percent commercial off-the-shelf parts, including the Multimatic dual spool-valve dampers and Chevrolet Performance suspension components. Power comes from a 186-horsepower 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbo diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

GM Defense says the durability and performance of the ISV’s components have been proven in the grueling Best in the Desert race series. The Colorado is one of only four vehicles to complete 11 consecutive races in the competition, out of a total of 434 competitors.

The $214.3 million contract is for an initial Army Procurement Objective of 649 vehicles, which would mean the cost of one ISV is approximately $330,200. However, the cost per unit is likely much lower as the production contract is “to build, field and sustain the Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)” – which means it also includes maintenance. In total, the approved Army Acquisition Objective is 2,065 vehicles.

“It’s indeed an honor to leverage our parent company’s experience as one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers to design, build and deliver the best technologies available to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and our allies,” said David Albritton, president of GM Defense.

For the ISV project, GM Defense collaborates with Ricardo Defense, which will support key product logistics and fielding requirements of the vehicle.