The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is an all-terrain ground mobility system developed by GM Defense for the US Army.
Based on Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture, the ISV is integrated with multiple commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components.
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The GM Defense ISVs are being procured under the US Army’s ISV programme, which aims to provide Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) with a lightweight vehicle with increased speed during combat operations.
The first ISV was delivered to the US Army in October 2020. The Army approved the utility variant of the ISV in April 2025 and raised the procurement target to an overall requirement of 5,733 vehicles across both models.
In its FY26 budget request under the ground mobility vehicles line, the US Army sought $308.6m to procure 1,274 ISVs and associated equipment.
GM Defense’s infantry squad vehicle development
The US Army approved a procurement objective and plan for the purchase of 649 ISVs in February 2019. In August 2019, the Army awarded a $1m contract to Oshkosh Defense/Flyer, GM Defense, and SAIC/Polaris each for the development of an ISV prototype.
GM Defense received a $214.3m contract from the US Army Contracting Command–Detroit Arsenal for the development of ISV in June 2020.
The company partnered with Ricardo Defense to support key product logistics and fielding requirements of the ISV in 2019. Ricardo Defense led the ISV integrated product support (IPS) elements of the contract, including equipment training, field service support, provisioning, total package fielding, and technical manual development.
In March 2023, the programme was approved by the Program Executive Officer for Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) to transition to Full-Rate Production (FRP) with a revised acquisition objective of 2,593 units from the initial 2,065 vehicles.
ISV design and features
The infantry squad vehicle has an overall length of 5.26m (17ft), a width of 2.07m, and a height of 1.87m. It has a payload capacity of 3,200lb (1,633kg) and a kerb weight of up to 5,000lb.
The ISV features an occupant and cargo superstructure and can accommodate up to nine soldiers, including the driver. The driver’s position provides a visible distance of 5m from the vehicle’s front.
The components of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 vehicle have been upgraded to provide improved mobility in off-road conditions. The upgraded components of the ISV include dampers, springs, jounce shocks, air induction system, cooling system, driveshaft, underbody skid plates, front upper control arms, ball-spline front drive axles, and 0.89m diameter tyres.
The onboard electronically controlled systems offer optimal performance and overall capability by controlling the functions of the engine, transmission, transfer case, locking front and rear differentials, and power steering.
The vehicle can be deployed on the battlefield via low-velocity air drop from C-17, C-130 and A-400M aircraft, as an internal load aboard a CH/MH-47 Chinook or CH-53E/K Super/King Stallion, or as a sling load beneath a UH-60 Blackhawk.
ISV engine and transmission
The infantry squad vehicle is powered by a 2.8l General Motors LWN Duramax turbo-diesel engine, which generates an output of approximately 186hp at 3,400rpm and a torque of 369lb-ft at 2,000rpm.
Located at the vehicle’s front portion, the engine compartment is easily accessible through a single-piece hood and fender. The engine is coupled with a GM Hydro-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission.
The vehicle is fitted with a GM AutoTrac 2-speed transfer case with 2.62 low range.
Performance and suspension
The minimum ground clearance of the vehicle is 0.34m, while the approach angle, breakover angle and departure angles are 46.1°, 26.4° and 42°, respectively.
The ISV offers extreme off-road mobility and transportability and can support missions in desert and rocky terrains.
The vehicle’s front suspension uses a ZR2 Short/Long arm with Chevy Performance long-travel Desert Racing suspension with jounce shocks and Multimatic dynamic suspension spool valve (DSSV) dampers. The rear suspension features a ZR2 Hotchkiss with Chevy Performance long-travel Desert Racing suspension with jounce shocks and DSSV dampers.
The front axle uses a Colorado ZR2 Dana M190 with an electronic locking differential while the rear axle is fitted with a Colorado ZR2 Dana M220 with an electronic locking differential.
The Multimatic DSSV dampers use precision spool valve technology for providing damper predictability, accuracy and repeatability. The dampers also reduce jolts to passengers and deliver the ultimate in-wheel and vehicle control.
A third spool valve provides extra damping for off-road conditions to achieve control and comfort during high-displacement wheel movement and high-impact compression cycles.
