Ford Challenges GM Defense in U.S. Army Future Infantry Squad Vehicle-Heavy Competition.

Ford Motor has entered the U.S. Army's Infantry Squad Vehicle Heavy (ISV-H) competition after being selected to develop prototype vehicles alongside GM Defense and BC Customs. The move marks the automaker's most significant return to military vehicle development in decades. The Army's prototype effort aims to deliver a heavier infantry mobility vehicle that combines tactical transport with onboard electrical power generation, supporting future operations while leveraging commercially derived technologies to reduce acquisition time and sustainment costs.

The ISV-H program expands the Army's effort to modernize light tactical mobility by evaluating multiple industry approaches before selecting a production design. Ford, GM Defense, and Utah-based BC Customs will each develop prototype vehicles capable of transporting infantry squads across challenging terrain while providing exportable electrical power for mission systems and emerging battlefield technologies. The competition reflects the Army's increasing reliance on commercial automotive engineering to accelerate fielding, simplify logistics, and improve lifecycle affordability.

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GM Defense's heavy-duty hybrid vehicle demonstrator at AUSA 2025 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The requirement goes beyond replacing an existing vehicle. As modern ground forces rely more heavily on drones, digital command systems and electronic warfare assets, the Army is seeking a platform that combines off-road mobility with the ability to generate electrical power directly in the field. Following prototype deliveries, the competing vehicles will undergo operational assessment and developmental testing before any decision on future production is made.

The awards were made by the U.S. Army on June 30, 2026, under Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), a procurement mechanism designed to accelerate prototype development outside the traditional acquisition framework. The selection was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on July 27 and subsequently confirmed by an Army spokesperson, who stated that GM Defense, Ford and BC Customs would each deliver three ISV-Heavy prototypes by March 30, 2027. The nine vehicles will then undergo operational assessments and limited developmental testing with the Army Test and Evaluation Command to evaluate their suitability for future operational requirements.

Ford’s proposal is based on the F-Series Super Duty platform, extending the company's renewed interest in defense programs after decades focused primarily on commercial vehicles. The Super Duty architecture already offers high payload capacity, robust chassis construction and proven durability under demanding operating conditions, making it a practical foundation for military adaptation. Ford also intends to leverage its Ford Pro commercial vehicle network to provide logistics support, spare parts availability and fleet management capabilities throughout the vehicle's service life.

GM Defense enters the competition with a more mature solution derived from the heavy-duty hybrid tactical vehicle it unveiled at AUSA 2024. The demonstrator is based on the Chevrolet Silverado Heavy-Duty ZR2 platform and combines a 2.8-liter GM Duramax turbo-diesel engine with a GMC HUMMER EV electric drive motor, a 102 kWh 12-module battery pack and an eBeam rear axle. According to GM Defense, the hybrid architecture supports Silent Drive and Silent Watch modes while providing exportable electrical power for command-and-control systems, sensors and other mission equipment. The company also states that the vehicle can accommodate up to six personnel, supports modular mission configurations including electronic warfare and counter-uncrewed aerial systems, and remains compatible with military fuels including JP-8, DF2, Jet-A and F24. The platform is also designed for internal transport aboard a C-130 and external sling-load transport beneath a CH-47 helicopter.

Electrical generation has become one of the defining requirements of the ISV-Heavy program. Army documentation calls for a platform capable of delivering continuous high-voltage direct current alongside 28-volt DC and 120-volt AC power outputs to sustain a broad range of battlefield systems. As infantry formations increasingly deploy unmanned aerial systems, digital command-and-control networks and electronic warfare equipment, a vehicle that functions as a mobile energy source reduces logistical demands while increasing operational autonomy for dispersed units.

The ISV-Heavy requirement is primarily shaped by the Army’s need to move electrical power with small formations rather than by a demand for heavier protection. The service is seeking a vehicle for up to six personnel that can provide 60 kW of continuous high-voltage direct-current power, 15 kW at 28 volts DC and 4.8 kW at 120 volts AC. These outputs would enable the platform to support command-post equipment and other electrically dependent systems without assigning a dedicated generator vehicle to each detachment. Army acquisition official Jesse Tolleson has described mobile electrical power as a critical capability gap and identified field command posts as one intended application. Any conclusions concerning silent movement, reduced thermal signature or fuel savings should remain limited to GM Defense’s diesel-electric prototype until Ford and BC Customs disclose their respective propulsion and power-generation architectures.

The central issue to be examined during Army testing is whether the vehicle can generate the required power while preserving mobility, payload and reliability. The heavier commercial chassis creates space for energy storage, power electronics and mission equipment, but it also carries measurable penalties. The proposed ISV-Heavy is approximately 9,000 pounds heavier than the original nine-seat ISV and accommodates between two and six personnel depending on configuration. The nine prototypes due by March 30, 2027, will therefore undergo operational assessments and limited developmental testing under Army Test and Evaluation Command rather than moving directly into production. At this stage, the program demonstrates an effort to combine tactical transport and mobile power generation on a single chassis, but it does not yet demonstrate that the resulting vehicle will reduce logistical demand or improve survivability under combat conditions. Those effects will depend on test results covering terrain performance, electrical load management, reliability, and the impact of added weight on deployability.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.