GM Defense

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]

GM Defense
TypeSubsidiary (LLC)
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1914 (1914) (1st vehicle)[1]
FounderGeneral Motors
Headquarters
Concord, North Carolina
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Stephen S. duMont (President)
ProductsMilitary vehicles
OwnerGeneral Motors
ParentGeneral Motors
Websitegmdefensellc.com

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]

History

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]

Current projects
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]

Previous products

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 M54 (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.

Facilities
  • Washington, DC - Headquarters
  • Concord, NC - Infantry Squad Vehicle Production Facility

References
  1. History on GMD website
  2. "General Motors Launches New Military Defense Division Called GM Defense". TopSpeed.com. October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. "GM Developing Autonomous, Fuel Cell,Multi-Use Platform Called SURUS". TopSpeed.com. October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. "U.S. Army TARDEC demos ZH2 fuel cell vehicle at Schofield with 25th Infantry". Army.mil. February 8, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  5. "GM and U.S. Navy Collaborating on Fuel Cell-Powered Underwater Unmanned Vehicles". GM Press Release. June 23, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  6. Willems, Steph (2017-10-09). "General Motors Going Back Into the Defense Business". The Truth About Cars.
  7. Ashley Roque (29 June 2020). "US Army selects GM Defense to build new Infantry Squad Vehicle fleet". Janes. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  8. "Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 Concept: An Experiment with an Eye toward the Military Vehicles of Tomorrow". Car and Driver. April 1, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  9. "GM's view of hydrogen fuel cells: great for military use". Green Car Reports. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  10. "AUSA 2018: GM develops next-generation ZH2 hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck". Jane's International Defence Review. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  11. "GM fuel cells to power Navy's underwater drones". Detroit News. June 23, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  12. "MISSION-READY CHEVROLET COLORADO ZH2 FUEL CELL VEHICLE BREAKS COVER AT U.S. ARMY SHOW". GM Hydrotec. October 23, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  13. "The Diplomatic Security Service and GM Defense complete Phase III in the development of next-generation armored Heavy-Duty Sports Utility Vehicle" (Press release). U.S. Department of State. July 19, 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  14. "Heavy-Duty (HD) Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)". GM Defense. Retrieved 20 September 2023.

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