Soldiers rig the GMV 1.1 to assess its suitability for aerial delivery. Credit: US Army.

The US Army Operational Test Command’s (USAOTC) Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate (ABNSOTD) has carried out low-velocity airdrops of the Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 (GMV 1.1).

The vehicle is designed to provide support and tactical mobility to special operations troops in both urban and non-urban environments across all military operations and terrain profiles.

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It can be transported using the army’s CH-47 Chinook helicopter, as well as the US Air Force (USAF) C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift aircraft.

Special forces weapons sergeant 1st class Juan Cruz said that the operational testing of the vehicle is about the US troops.

“The vehicle is designed to provide support and tactical mobility to special operations troops in both urban and non-urban environments.”

Cruz said: “It’s about making sure that the GMV 1.1 is effective and suitable for the environments that these highly trained warfighters train and fight in.”

While the initial airdrop of GMV 1.1 was conducted out of the US Marine Corps C130J Hercules aircraft, other aerial support for the vehicle will be carried out by USAF or US Navy aircraft.

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ABNSOTD Test Division chief lieutenant colonel Greg Oquendo said: “We test and assess army, joint, and multi-service airborne and airdrop related warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using soldiers to determine whether the systems are effective, suitable, and survivable.

“Every piece of equipment soldiers use has been independently tested and evaluated to meet current and future army needs and requirements.

“The GMV 1.1 will be become the standardised special operations combat vehicle with the operational flexibility to support the SOF core activities of direct action, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and counterinsurgency operations.”