Since 1950, GM Defense has been leveraging the experience and production capabilities of the country’s largest automaker to serve the needs of global defense, security, and government buyers. GM Defense not only converts some of the brand’s best-selling models into readymade military vehicles, but it’s also been responsible for developing entirely original offerings like the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS) in collaboration with the U.S. Army. Essentially a modular electric truck platform that can be customized to fit a wide range of military, security, and logistics applications, the SURUS employs a Hydrotec fuel cell powertrain that allows the vehicle to boast whisper-quiet operation. The zero-emissions vehicle can operate on a wide range of terrain and be used as anything from a flatbed transport or battlefield ambulance to a rugged snowcat that can easily cross the chilliest tundra. The fuel cell approach gives the SURUS a marked advantage over your typical gas-burning vehicle, reducing its thermal signature and allowing it to double as a mobile power source for important equipment and systems.
The SURUS might be the most advanced vehicle to emerge from GM Defense in recent memory, but it’s certainly not alone. The company has produced a long list of potent defense vehicles over the last 75 years, some of which might seem oddly familiar. Several GM Defense models are based on existing vehicles, with the Chevy Suburban, Colorado, and Silverado all drafted into duty for a little frontline action. Get ready to dive into the wide world of acronyms as we review the ISV, IUV, LUV and other interesting models that have emerged from GM’s defense arm and learn how some of the popular models you’d find at your local Chevy dealer provide the basis for the world’s leading military and security vehicles.
Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)
The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) might look like a bare-bones military Jeep, but it’s actually a four-wheel drive, ultra-light tactical vehicle built on the same platform as the Chevy Colorado’s off-road-ready ZR2 trim. Marketed as highly adaptable and easy to maintain, the nine-passenger ISV should be familiar to civilians as it’s outfitted with 90 percent Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) parts, including components from GM’s Chevrolet Performance division. The truck’s front and rear Dana electronic-locking differentials are lifted straight from the ZR2. However, the 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel, Hydro-Matic six-speed transmission, run-flat tires, and AutoTrac two-speed transfer are slightly different than what you’d find on the average Colorado stalking your local off-road trails. The ISV can carry up to 3,200 lbs and be equipped with infrared lights, a top-heavy gun mount, and side swivel mounts to excel on the battlefield. The truck’s lightweight design makes it perfect for rapid insertion via low-velocity air drops or sling-loaded transport via a military helicopter.
Infantry Utility Vehicle (IUV)
Despite sharing the same Colorado ZR2 platform and many off-the-shelf parts, the Infantry Utility Vehicle (IUV) serves a distinctly different purpose from the ISV. While the ISV is intended to be a troop transport that rapidly deploys soldiers, specialists, and other military personnel to the front lines, the IUV serves more of a support role, housing specialized equipment and boasting a cargo bed that’s perfect for bulkier components and systems like mortars, munitions, and counter-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) tech. This cargo bed reduces the IUV’s seating to five passengers, but it’s a small price to pay for the utility the vehicle provides.
Perfect for rugged off-road conditions, the IUV includes high and low four-wheel drive and nearly a dozen suspension and chassis upgrades courtesy of Chevrolet Performance. Like the ISV, the IUV offers a 3,200-lb towing capacity thanks to its Duramax 2.8L turbo-diesel engine and six-speed Hydro-Matic transmission, along with electronic-locking front and rear differentials, power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, run-flat tires, and the Colorado ZR2’s robust Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) dampers and jounce shocks. Ideal for reconnaissance, logistics, command and control, electronic warfare, and fire support, the IUV is basically a more mature version of the Colorado ZR2 that made it through boot camp with the highest honors.
Suburban Shield
Looking virtually indistinguishable from the regular production model, the Suburban Shield might be the most anonymous vehicle in the current GM Defense lineup. Designed to accommodate VIPs like diplomats, dignitaries, and other world leaders, the Suburban Shield provides an incognito alternative to some of the louder, more obvious models on the market. The SUV’s unique body-on-frame chassis and suspension essentially turn the Shield into a heavy-duty version of the standard Suburban, a version that hasn’t been offered to the general public since the 11th-generation model left the market in 2019. This heavy-duty suspension and body-on-frame chassis allow the Suburban Shield to boast a much higher payload capacity than the commercial-grade Suburban, with the 3500 HD model carrying up to 4,405 lbs. That sort of payload capacity can make all the difference when accommodating up to nine passengers plus all the security equipment and protection they might need to ensure a VIP’s safety. In addition to its upgraded suspension and chassis, the Suburban Shield offers improved handling, traction control, and braking power for a dynamic, responsive driving experience.
Light Utility Vehicle (LUV)
The Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) sees the Chevrolet Silverado Heavy-Duty (HD) truck platform treated to a battle-ready makeover. The LUV’s adaptability is one of its biggest selling points. It serves a wide range of offensive and defensive roles from fire support, command and control, electronic warfare, and counter-unmanned aircraft systems to cable layer utility vehicle, military police vehicle, or support front-line operations. The Silverado HD serves as a great starting point, and while GM has been generous with the added components, some things simply don’t need improvement. Just take the LUV’s 6.6L V8, identical to the engine found in the standard-issue Silverado. The massive engine provides drivers with 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque while GM leverages the expertise of the transmission pros at Allison to give the LUV a ten-speed gearbox. Built with off-road performance in mind, the LUV boasts 37-inch all-terrain tires, Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve Dampers, improved approach and departure angles, plenty of underbody protection, and a wider track than the regular Silverado HD. The versatile vehicle earns bonus points for how easy it is to repair and maintain, whether on or off base. The LUV can be serviced at any GM dealership with the same time-tested parts and supplies you’d find on the commercial market.
While the ISV, IUV, LUV, and Suburban Shield might not be available to the general public, they’re remarkably similar to many of the trucks and SUVs you’ll find at your local Chevy dealer. The Silverado HD, Chevy Suburban, and Colorado ZR2 lack the matte green paint, open-air design, and bed-mounted anti-drone systems of their military counterparts, but they’re not that much different when it comes to off-road applications, payload capacity, and other important metrics. Catering to military, government, and security clients allows GM Defense to improve its commercial models through lessons that can only be learned on the battlefield or in other high-leverage situations, but the relationship actually works both ways. Innovations developed for the mainstream market also help to improve GM’s defense-focused models, and the similarities between the two categories mean that many of the brand’s vehicles can be replaced with affordable, off-the-shelf parts. It’s a fruitful dynamic that’s making the world just a little safer, one truck at a time.
