NATO Forces Might Soon Roll With This Unrecognizable Chevy Pickup

The British Army, along with other NATO forces, might soon be cruising in GM Defense’s Infantry Square Vehicle (ISV), which is essentially a beefed-up version of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. To land this exclusive defense contract, GM has teamed up with NP Aerospace, a well-established defense contractor with operations in the UK and Canada.

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GM’s ISV has been in use for a few years now and is already being utilized by the U.S. Army infantry, Special Operations Forces, and the Canadian Armed Forces. It’s also deployed across Europe alongside a second version, also known as the Infantry Utility Vehicle or IUV. The British Army is in need of an updated fleet, and the Colorado-based truck might be perfect for the job.

A Military Vehicle with a Civilian Heart

Rather than being a bespoke vehicle explicitly developed for the military, the ISV shares its platform with the Colorado ZR2 and features 90 percent commercial off-the-shelf parts, including some components from Chevrolet Performance. This reduces cost and allows for rapid deployment as well as proven reliability and safety.

Chevy Power

Power comes courtesy of GM’s familiar 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel four-cylinder that’s coupled to a six-speed transmission and a two-speed transfer case, while the ISV sports the same front and rear Dana electronic locking differentials as the civilian-spec Colorado ZR2.

Both the the ISV and IUV carry up to nine people and can be dropped into service from planes, like the C-17 Globemaster III, or fit in the storage hold of a Chinook or King Stallion helicopter.

“Our objective is to deliver the next generation of mobility solutions for the UK with speed, efficiency, and enhanced capabilities by leveraging GM’s extensive investments in mobility R&D, product development, and manufacturing,” GM Defense president Steve duMont said.

“This is now coupled with NP Aerospace’s expertise in armor manufacturing, technology integration, vehicle maintenance and support. Together, we will deliver innovative solutions to the British Army, demonstrating our commitment to provide the best capability to our NATO alliance partners,” he added.