The U.S. Army is asking whether the defense industrial base can deliver and support nearly 21,000 Infantry Squad Vehicles.
An Army market survey published Monday focuses on two ISV versions: the ISV-9, which carries nine passengers, and the ISV-Utility, which carries five passengers plus a utility bed to haul cargo.
“The estimated total requirement is for 20,787 vehicles (9,003 ISV-9 and 11,784 ISV-U), subject to fund availability and requirements from the U.S. Army, other sister services and potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers,” the survey said.
“To ensure the most streamlined, competitive, and cost-effective approach, the government is utilizing the results of this market survey to determine the feasibility of several procurement pathways.”
The ISV, from GM Defense, is based on General Motors’s commercial Colorado and Silverado pickups. GM Defense was awarded a $697.7 million contract modification last month for engineering changes to the ISV-U and the ISV-U Utility Winch Kit, bringing the cumulative value to $915.6 million.
GM Defense announced Oct. 12 that the Army expanded orders for the ISV from an initial 649 to nearly 12,000.
In the market survey, contractors are asked to provide the Army with manufacturing cost estimates based on “varying annual production volumes (e.g., 100, 500, 1,000, and 1,500+ units per year) to evaluate economy-of-scale thresholds.”
The survey also includes a timeline that begins in fiscal 2028 with an acquisition of 106 vehicles. The acquisition continues to fiscal 2036, with the Army receiving around 2,000 to 2,100 vehicles per year.
The survey also listed numerous technical specifications. The ISV-9 and ISV-U will have a maximum vehicle curb weight of 5,200 pounds, plus an operational payload of 5,000 pounds for the ISV-9 and a payload capacity of 5,000 pounds for the ISV-U. Both versions will have a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,200 pounds, the survey said.
Both vehicles require baseline military modifications, including blackout lights, 24V electrical systems, main power disconnect, run-flat tires, the ability to ford both salt and fresh water, MIL-STD-814/MIL-STD-209K life and tie-down provisions, 24V NATO slave receptacles on the front and rear bumper, an integrated winch and Military Petroleum, Oils, and Lubricants (POL) compatibility.”
The ISV-9 and ISV-U will have full rollover protection for their passengers. The ISV-U will also have a winch, a 4,000-watt inverter with multiple electrical outlets, towing capacity of up to 6,500 pounds and the capability to carry “non-ambulatory patients as a kit.”
The vehicles should be capable of traveling up to 55 miles per hour on good paved roads and 17 miles per hour cross country.
“Both the ISV-9 and ISV-U shall be capable of traversing longitudinal grades up to 60% and must reliably meet stringent mobility profile requirements across improved, secondary, and un-improved surfaces (trails and cross-country) without fatiguing the occupants when the platform is operating at GVW [gross vehicle weight],” the Army said.
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