The US Army has initiated a market survey to assess industry production capacity for a potential 10-year procurement contract covering an additional 20,787 Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISVs).
The proposed acquisition could double the Army’s existing procurement objective, increasing its planned ISV inventory to approximately 32,400 vehicles. Production is expected to begin with 106 units in 2028 before scaling up to around 2,000 vehicles annually through 2038.
The Army is targeting July 2028 for contract award, with initial deliveries expected to commence in late fiscal year 2029. GM Defense, the incumbent manufacturer, currently produces the ISV using components derived from commercial pickup trucks. The company is also competing with Ford Motor Co. and BC Customs for a separate ISV-Heavy programme.
Interested industry participants are required to submit their responses by late November.
Infantry Squad Vehicle Specifications
The proposed procurement includes 9,003 nine-passenger ISV-9 vehicles and 11,784 five-passenger ISV-Utility variants.
Both lightweight configurations will use a common off-road chassis designed to navigate gradients of up to 60 percent while maintaining an average speed of approximately 55 miles per hour (86 kilometres per hour).
The vehicles must also support multiple military transportation requirements, including internal carriage aboard CH-47 Chinook helicopters, external sling-load transportation using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and low-velocity airdrop operations.
Additional specifications include 24-volt electrical systems, run-flat tyres, blackout lighting, and water-fording capability of up to 30 inches (75 centimetres). These features are intended to support mobility and operational flexibility across challenging battlefield environments.
Multiyear Procurement Strategy and Funding
To support the expanded acquisition programme, the US Army is considering a multiyear procurement strategy aimed at securing volume-based cost savings and ensuring a consistent production pipeline.
For fiscal year 2027, the service has requested approximately $527 million to procure 2,418 Infantry Squad Vehicles. Senate defence authorisers have also drafted legislation that would grant the Army multiyear purchasing authority, supporting the accelerated deployment of vehicles to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams.
Additionally, the Army is seeking industry pricing for semi-autonomous integration kits to support future vehicle modernisation. The procurement effort also requires unlimited technical data rights, enabling the service to develop comprehensive in-house maintenance, sustainment, and support capabilities.
