| GM Defense | |
| Type: | Subsidiary (LLC) |
| Industry: | Automotive |
| Predecessors: | --> |
| Successors: | --> |
| Founded: | (1st vehicle)[1] |
| Founder: | General Motors |
| Hq Location City: | Concord, North Carolina |
| Hq Location Country: | United States |
| Area Served: | United States |
| Key People: | Stephen S. duMont (President) |
| Products: | Military vehicles |
| Owner: | General Motors |
| Parent: | General Motors |
GM Defense is the military product subsidiary of General Motors, headquartered in Concord, North Carolina. It focuses on defense industry needs with hydrogen fuel cell and other advanced mobility technologies.[2] GM Defense projects include SURUS (Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure), an autonomous modular platform joint project with the United States Army.[3]
ZH2 are modified Chevrolet medium and full size pickups modified for military needs. The ZH2, fitted with a hydrogen fuel cell and electric drive, has a stealthy drive system which produces a very low smoke, noise, odor and thermal signature. This allows soldiers to conduct silent watch and silent mobility missions on the battlefield.[4]
General Motors, the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory are cooperating to incorporate automotive hydrogen fuel cell systems into the next generation of Navy unmanned undersea vehicles, or UUVs. Hydrogen fuel cell technology could augment ships and subs on patrol.[5]
The original GM Defense was founded in 1950, and acquired by General Dynamics in 2003. This later became part of the General Dynamics Land Systems division.
In 2017, General Motors announced the company's return to the defense industry.[6]
| Model | Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry Squad Vehicle | Light utility vehicle | Air-transportable high-speed, light utility vehicle based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 selected by the U.S. Army in June 2020.[7] | |
| Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 | Military truck | Extreme off-road-capable fuel-cell-powered electric vehicle. Based on the Chevrolet Colorado. The Colorado ZH2 is the product of a joint venture between GM and TARDEC—the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center.[8] | |
| SURUS - Silent Utility Rover Universal Super Structure | Modular military platform | GM-U.S. Army collaboration on a modular experimental light- and medium-duty fuel-cell truck platform.[9] Autonomous fuel cell vehicle with highly modular and adaptable superstructure. Powered by Hydrotec and JOULETEC propulsion systems. | |
| Chevrolet Silverado ZH2 | Military truck | GM has developed a new 'ZH2' hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric truck, with a next-generation engine and a Chevrolet Silverado chassis. The Silverado ZH2 can output up to 100 kW of power.[10] | |
| UUV | Unmanned Underwater Vehicle | A partnership with General Motors and the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory partnership for automotive hydrogen fuel cell systems into the next generation of Navy unmanned undersea vehicles, or UUVs.[11] The UUV leverages GM Hydrotec fuel cell technology common with the Colorado ZH2.[12] | |
| HD SUV | Light utility vehicle | An armored, heavy-duty version of the Chevrolet Suburban developed for the U.S. Department of State DSS.[13] [14] |
Products produced by the former GM Defense in past include:
| Model | Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MILCOTS (Militarized Commercial Off-The-Shelf (Milverado) | military truck | based on Chevrolet Silverado; now being used by the US Army under the COMBATT (Commercial Based Tactical Truck) program | |
| MLVW (medium logistic vehicle, wheeled) | military truck | M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck | |
| Cougar AVGP | armoured fighting vehicle | based on Mowag Piranha with Scorpion tank turret | |
| Grizzly AVGP | armoured fighting vehicle | based on Mowag Piranha with Cadillac Gage turret | |
| Husky AVGP | armoured fighting vehicle | based on Mowag Piranha | |
| LAV-25 | armoured fighting vehicle | developed from Mowag Piranha family | |
| Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle | armoured fighting vehicle | developed from LAV-25 family | |
| LAV III | armoured fighting vehicle | developed from LAV-25 family | |
| TRILS | Tactical Radar Identification and Location System) | based on Bison APC platform | |
| Stryker | armoured fighting vehicle | based on LAV III |
With the sale to General Dynamics, only the Stryker product lines are still in production. The M54 truck is no longer in production. MILCOT was transitioned to the US Army's COMBATT program.