General Motors defense unit continues to offer new vehicles with evolutionary updates designed to keep up with the changing needs of today’s warfighter. It’s showing off the prototype of its next-generation tactical vehicle at AUSA 2024.
GM Defense took the wraps the prototype of its Next Gen tactical vehicle in Washington, D.C. this week.
The new model is based off the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2. More and more the U.S. military needs vehicles that can handle a variety of settings. This requires a vehicle that is more flexible than the old Humvee that many envision when they think of vehicles used by the armed forces.
GM’s latest offering does just that, starting with a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel with a 12-module battery pack. In addition to drive motors for the front and rear axles that enable Silent Drive and Silent Watch, these technologies make the vehicles harder to detect.
“Our Next Gen vehicle is a game-changing mobility solution that delivers tactically significant capabilities by integrating GM’s proven commercial technologies,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. “This rugged and highly capable diesel-powered vehicle offers tactical advantages, such as Silent Operations, exportable power, and increased range with extended mission duration.
New capabilities
The new GM Defense vehicle its based off the Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup.
The new vehicle can travel further and offer more stealth capabilities than it predecessor.
“Our warfighters deserve the latest technology that industry can offer in order to gain and maintain competitive advantage over our adversaries,” DuMont said. “Our Next Gen mobility solution can be customized and fielded now.”
Key technologies on the new model are Silent Drive and Silent Watch, which enable low acoustic and thermal signatures. Both make more difficult to track the vehicle. Other tactical advantages include: exportable power that can charge mission systems, capable of adding on armor, and ready to accept autonomous driving technology allowing for unmanned operations.
Additionally, the new diesel is more fuel efficient, allowing for longer mission times. The new pickup can use existing JP8 fuel infrastructure. It also uses fewer parts and subsystems, thus requiring less maintenance. Less maintenance means more mission time.
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How you can get it
Next Gen is offered in two-, four-, and six-seat configurations. The vehicle will be optimized to support multi-mission capabilities, including command and control, launched effects, network extension, counter unmanned aerial systems anti-armor, casualty evacuation, and other critical missions.
“Next Gen’s ‘wow’ factor is right behind the wheel,” said John ‘JD’ Johnson, vice president of GM Defense’s Government Solutions and Strategy Division. “Customers need to drive this highly capable vehicle to see, feel, and hear the benefits. Next Gen fundamentally changes the discussion around modern mobility through the tactical benefits delivered by its propulsion system, including its ability to address the power gap in the formation.
“This highly capable tactical vehicle leverages billions of dollars of investments GM has made in R&D and innovation to enhance warfighter capability. We encourage customers to test drive it so that we can get these capabilities fielded immediately.”
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