The U.S. Army is moving ahead with plans to modernize its tactical vehicle fleet by selecting three contenders to develop the new Infantry Squad Vehicle-Heavy (ISV-Heavy). GM Defense, Ford, and BC Customs have been chosen to compete for the program, with each company expected to deliver three prototypes by March 30, 2027, for a comprehensive round of military testing, writes Breaking Defense.
Unlike many previous tactical vehicle programs, the ISV-Heavy places significant emphasis on hybrid-electric technology. The U.S. Army is requiring a hybrid drivetrain equipped with a 60-kWh battery, roughly comparable to the battery capacity found in standard Tesla electric vehicles.
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On the part of Defense Express, we note that the requirement for hybridity is not related to concern for the environment, but to the intention to obtain a "battery on wheels" to serve as a mobile energy platform capable of powering equipment such as radars, electronic warfare systems, communications gear, and other power-hungry technologies. This reflects the growing importance of electronic capabilities in modern warfare, where vehicles increasingly function as mobile command and support nodes in addition to transporting troops.
The U.S. Army has also outlined demanding mobility requirements. The vehicle must carry six soldiers with a payload of up to 1.8 tons, tow trailers weighing three tons, recover vehicles weighing up to 4.5 tons, climb 60% grades, overcome 46-centimeter vertical obstacles, and maintain more than 30 centimeters of ground clearance. At the same time, it must be based on an existing commercial platform with minimal modifications and feature an open modular architecture to simplify future upgrades.
Protection, however, is notably absent from the list of requirements. Like the currently fielded M1301 ISV based on the Chevrolet Colorado, the new ISV-Heavy is intended to remain a light, unarmored vehicle. According to reports, GM Defense is expected to offer a militarized version of the Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500, while Ford will adapt its F-Series pickup platform. BC Customs has not yet disclosed its design.
At the same time, American experts call for a closer look at Ukraine's experience and directly point out how the Armed Forces of Ukraine use modern MRAPs, in particular the GYURZA-02 by UkrArmoTech.
In particular, retired colonel and veteran Wes Martin writes for NewsMax that the lack of armored vehicles (MRAPs) during the second war against Iraq was a fatal mistake for the U.S. armed forces. At the same time, the war in Ukraine demonstrates that armored vehicles are not only a vehicle for low-intensity wars.
According to the expert, In Ukraine, those threats are compounded by persistent drone surveillance, FPV strikes, loitering munitions and precision-guided fires.
"Modern armored vehicles must not only withstand blasts, but also enable crews to fight and survive while under constant observation from above," the expert writes.
In addition, the Ukrainian defense industry demonstrates ultra-high speed and adaptability, as well as the transition from the use of commercial chassis to its own developments. As an example, he cites the highly protected armored vehicle GYURZA-02 by UkrArmoTech, which was created and received permission for delivery to the army in six months. According to the expert, it is the result of not just engineering solutions, but a practical response to the realities of modern combat operations.
"The GYURZA illustrates how those lessons are finding their way into vehicle design. Protected crew compartments, V-shaped hulls, blast-attenuating seating and remotely operated weapon stations are not simply engineering features – they are practical responses to the realities of contemporary combat.
Ultimately, however, no armored vehicle should be judged by specifications on paper alone. Its true measure is whether it enables soldiers to complete their mission and return home alive," writes Wes Martin.
This applies to the entire defense industries of Ukraine, where "engineers, manufacturers, certification authorities and frontline military units now work simultaneously rather than sequentially, creating an accelerated innovation cycle that continuously feeds battlefield experience back into production."
According to Wes Martin, "Ukraine shows that a new tier of manufacturers, defined by velocity rather than pedigree, is moving into the space the old primes cannot fill fast enough."
The maine idea of the American expert is that by failing to meet the requirements and vision of other countries, the United States is losing important export markets. It gives as example the Gulf countries, which actively prefer battle-tested solutions that can be locally produced. "Mideast is finding its answer in Ukraine because it offers the clearest wartime lessons," Wes Martin worns.
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