US Army Plans Nearly 12,000 Infantry Squad Vehicles From GM Defense

GM Defense said the US Army has expanded its planned Infantry Squad Vehicle order from an initial 649 vehicles to nearly 12,000. The company announced the figure on October 12, 2026, at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting, and Defense News reported it the same day.

The Infantry Squad Vehicle, or ISV, is a light, unarmoured troop carrier that GM Defense builds on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform. GM Defense said its five-soldier ISV-Utility variant is expected to field across 39 active-duty and National Guard mobile brigades.

GM Defense ISV Order Grows to Nearly 12,000 Vehicles

Defense News says the expansion means the Army will grow its ISV fleet by roughly 1,750%. GM Defense president Steve duMont said the company combines “advanced capability, rapid fielding and sustainable scale” and that GM is moving its engineering, supply chain and manufacturing scale “directly to the service member.” Those are company statements.

The announcement describes an expanded requirement, not a newly signed contract. The sources reviewed give no dollar value, delivery schedule or contract vehicle for the larger quantity. The same company release also describes “an initial multi-year order of about 1,200 vehicles” before saying the Army “now plans to procure more than 10,000 ISVs,” so the starting point depends on how earlier orders are counted.

How the ISV Requirement Has Grown

The ISV has been counted several ways since the programme began, which is why the baseline differs between accounts.

Measured against the 9,282 acquisition objective in the FY2026 budget, the new figure is higher again. Whether it is an Army requirement, a planning ceiling or a funded programme is not clear from the public record. That reading is analysis, not a company claim.

ISV-Utility and the Mobile Brigades

GM Defense said it worked with the Army to identify “a clear operational gap,” then self-funded an ISV-Utility prototype and delivered seven prototypes for unit-level assessments “at no cost” to the Army. At AUSA 2025 a GM Defense spokesperson told Janes the ISV-Utility could reach soldiers as early as May 2026.

Army officials told Defense News the ISV will serve as a platform for the new Mobile Brigade Combat Teams, shaped by lessons learned from Ukraine. A heavier ISV-Heavy, modelled on the Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500 ZR2, is a separate effort. GM Defense also unveiled concepts for an unmanned ground vehicle and a hybrid expeditionary energy system at AUSA, but neither is part of the ISV order.

ISV Compared With JLTV and HMMWV

The Army treats the ISV as one of three light tactical vehicles alongside the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), according to the CRS.

Testing has been mixed. In 2021 the Pentagon’s operational test office found the ISV effective as a troop carrier in permissive environments but limited in combat roles. A 2023 update noted improved reliability, while its survivability assessment was unchanged.

GM Defense Company Profile

Open Questions on the 12,000 Figure

The 12,000 figure is large against the programme’s history, and several questions remain open. The first is money: the CRS noted that the House and Senate appropriations committees recommended FY2026 ISV funding below the Army’s request, by $274.172 million and $62.458 million respectively. The second is protection. Defense News points out the ISV has no armour, which sits uneasily with talk of large-scale combat operations. Army officials have said the vehicle is meant to move troops, not fight from.

Infantry Squad Vehicle FAQ

What is the Infantry Squad Vehicle?

A light, unarmoured troop carrier built by GM Defense on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform, designed to move an infantry squad quickly and to be carried by helicopter or dropped by parachute.

How many ISVs is the Army planning to buy?

GM Defense said the order grew from an initial 649 to nearly 12,000 vehicles, a figure announced on October 12, 2026.

Is the 12,000 vehicle order a signed contract?

The sources reviewed describe an expanded requirement and give no contract value. Earlier orders were placed as separate contracts, such as an $18.8 million order for 121 ISVs in March 2026.

What is the ISV-Utility?

A five-soldier variant that GM Defense self-funded as a prototype. The company said it is expected to field across 39 active-duty and National Guard mobile brigades.

Does the ISV have armour?

No. Defense News notes the standard design has no armour, doors or windows. It has a roll-over protection system.