General Motors Infantry Squad Vehicle

The US Army very recently awarded a contract to GM Defense to build the ISV.

It's based on the Chevy Colorado, modified with a lot of off the shelf performance parts.

Interesting vehicle,

https://www.joint-forces.com/defence-equipment-news/33722-us-army-isv-gm-defense-selected

 

Striking resemblance to the HMMWV. Maybe I missed it. Gas or Diesel and how long before the introduce a civilian version and give the first one off the line to someone famous?

 

I think diesel, although there was some mention of both.

Much smaller and lighter that the HUMVEE. Also built on a commercial chassis to speed up development and lower cost.

As for civilian versions, I don't know. No real cab, no bed, more jeep like than anything else. The 2021 Canyon is supposedly "inspired" by the design, but it's a regular pick up truck with a weird grill.

BTW, Jeep offered a product, but it didn't get all that far in the process.

 

Zero troop protection. They are returning to 1941.

 

Only $330,000 each! I wonder if it has a go-pro mount built in.

 

I really really hope that the contract award covers the full order, which would only put the price tag at 103,000 per. Which is still insane for what's basically just a chassis with lift hooks and bucket seats.

 

If I paid that much for a vehicle, I would want a grill and doors. This is stupid.

 

Right? It's so unprotected that even a pointy stick is a threat.

 

Exactly.

 

Even the promo photo shows exactly why its a bad idea.

 

At least this dude could shoot back.

 

Not to mention the completely unprotected radiator.

I really don't understand what the intended use of this thing is.

 

UTV designed by committee. A pair of polaris Rzrs would do the exact same job, faster, and at a third of the cost.

 

According to some of the articles on line, the vehicle was built to specs laid out by Spec Ops guys from Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force. They essentially wanted a large version of the Polaris MRZR D4. That's too light for some of the operations, so a larger vehicle was desired. Polaris offered the DAGOR A1.

The name is kind of inaccurate since this isn't for transporting infantry, it's for Special Operations. That's why they wanted minimal weight and armor. There are seats in the rear facing backwards and one on each side facing outwards. Which again, is inn the spec.

 

Now I am confused. We spend probably hundreds of thousands to train and equip a spec ops guy. And we're going to send them out with zero protection from, as pointed out, even sharp sticks?

Maybe I'm old and suspicious but I wonder how big a kick back some politician got for this one.