Infantry Squad Vehicle

The M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is an air-transportable high-speed, light utility vehicle selected by the United States Army in 2020.US Army Acquisition support center (USAASC) (2020) Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)
/ref> It is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform. An ISV can carry nine infantrymen. Fielding began in 2021, along with initial operational test and evaluation (IOTE);Andrew Eversde
(3 Feb 2021) Army defends new squad vehicle after blistering combat review
/ref> 649 ISVs are to be allocated to 11 infantry brigade combat teams (IBCTs) by 2025.

The Army will purchase 1,700 ISVs to augment the stop-gap M1297 Army Ground Mobility Vehicle, which is based on the General Dynamics Flyer 72.

Development

The M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle comprises the second phase of the Army Ground Mobility Vehicle program. The Army initiated the Ultra Light Combat Vehicle program beginning in 2014. The Army renamed this the Army Ground Mobility Vehicle in 2015. The Army never formalized a competitive bid process, but in the interim, opted to purchase a limited number of GMVs through SOCOM's Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 program. In its 2018 budget request, the Army split the GMV into two phases. The second phase, called the Infantry Squad Vehicle program, was initiated to acquire 1,700 additional vehicles; compared to 295 A-GMV.

In 2019, the U.S. Army awarded three ISV prototype contracts to the GM Defense/ Ricardo plc consortium, the Oshkosh Defense/ Flyer Defense LLC consortium and the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)/Polaris Inc. consortium.

The operational requirements of the ISV were nine passengers, a payload of , transportable by external sling load by a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, internal load/external lift by Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter, low-velocity air drop by Lockheed C-130 Hercules or Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft and exceptional mobility over all terrains allowing Infantry Brigade Combat Teams to move with their equipment over difficult terrain.

The GM/Ricardo prototype was based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and uses 90% commercial off the shelf parts. The Oshkosh/Flyer prototype was based on the Flyer 72 Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 and the SAIC/Polaris prototype was based on the Polaris DAGOR.

Prototype trials took place at Aberdeen Proving Ground in November/December 2019 followed by further trials at Fort Bragg in January 2020.

AMP-HEL

In August 2022, the Army revealed it was developing a directed energy weapon to protect IBCTs from small drones. The program is called the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) and plans to integrate a 20 kW laser onto an ISV in 2023, which is enough power to defend against group one and two UAVs.

C2 ISV

The Command and Control (C2) ISV is a specialized variant of the Infantry Squad Vehicle designed to enable mobile command operations at the company and battalion levels. It retains the same dimensions as the standard ISV to ensure compatibility with CH-47 Chinook transport and sling-load operations. The C2 ISV includes a protective shell housing a suite of communication and mission command systems, such as dual AN/PRC-158 radios, a mounted Mission Command Software (MMC-S) terminal, and a KGV-72 encryption device. A turntable-mounted keyboard and screen provide operators with the ability to manage communications and mission data while on the move or at a halt. Additional features include a hydraulic lift gate for protected rear access, adaptable seating for in-transit communications monitoring, and integrated power solutions to support radios, ATAK devices, and other mission-planning tools.

Design

The ISV is a doorless body-on-frame design, with steel and aluminum body panels. It is capable of seating 9 personnel (the size of a standard US Army rifle or weapons squad) in a 2/3/2/2 configuration within a simple roll-over protection structure. In addition to its occupants the ISV can store their rucksacks and sustainment items like water and ammunition. The ISV can be transported by the UH-60 Blackhawk via sling load, and internally carried in the CH-47 Chinook.

The ISV is powered by a Duramax 2.8L turbocharged direct-injection diesel I4 engine connected to a Hydro-Matic 6-speed automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case. The braking system is power assisted and anti-lock, with all 4 wheels using disc brakes and a run-flat insert. The electrical system is 24V and has a standard NATO jumper cable connector (aka "slave cable"). The headlights can be used in a combat and blackout driving mode for night time convoy driving.

File:M1301 sling load.jpg, M1301 ISVs being sling-loaded by UH-60 Black Hawks
File:M1301 ISV sling loaded by CH-47.jpg, A CH-47 sling-loading two M1301 ISVs
File:M1301 ISV paradrop.jpg, An M1301 ISV being airdropped out of a C-17

Operational use

The M1301 ISV was first used by 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in a Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission to provide aid to Hurricane Helene victims in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina in October 2024. ISVs were transported via internal load in CH-47 Chinook helicopters and via a 350 mile (563 km) convoy from Fort Campbell, KY to Asheville, NC.

Production

In June 2020 the U.S. Army awarded GM/Ricardo a $214 million contract to build 649 ISVs. The total Army requirement is 2,065 ISVs. The first delivery is to be made to the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. The vehicles will rely heavily on motorsport technology, with suspension modifications from Rod Hall Products, which sells modifications for the road-going version of the Colorado ZR2, and chassis modifications are to be built in Mooresville, North Carolina by Hendrick Motorsports. Vehicles will be delivered from GM's new Charlotte Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina. The ISV was approved for full-rate production in April 2023; 300 vehicles had been delivered so far to field in five brigade sets of roughly 59 each.

In January 2022, the Pentagon's chief weapons tester reported the vehicle would be unsuitable against a "near-peer threat," although the Army contended that the platform is intended to act as a troop carrier and not as a fighting vehicle; units are supposed to avoid threats or dismount if engaged rather than fight from the vehicles themselves.

GM Defense has since converted one of its bid vehicles for the ISV to an all-electric version.Sydney Freedberg, Jr. (4 May 2021) GM Defense: New President, New Factory, New Electric Truck
/ref> A variant of the ISV, carrying a 12.7 mm (.50) caliber gun and five infantrymen was on display at AUSA in October 2021.Jen Judson (12 Oct 2021) GM Defense pitches new version of Infantry Squad Vehicle
ISV 5

In July 2024 the Canadian government announced the acquisition of 90 vehicles in phase 1, with an option for a further 18, to equip Light Forces as part of EFP Latvia. 36 will be cargo variants and 54 personnel variants and will be received by October 2024. Phase 2 is to see the acquisition of up to 222 in cargo and personnel variants and up 23 light trailers.

References

{{Post-WWII US Soft Vehicles

Soft-skinned vehicles
Military vehicles of the United States
Military light utility vehicles
Military vehicles introduced in the 2020s
Vehicles designed for aircraft carriage