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Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)

The ISV is a lightweight expeditionary all-terrain vehicle that can carry up to nine troops and associated combat equipment. The ISV is the program of record for the Army Ground Mobility Vehicle. The ISV provides mobility on the battlefield for a nine-soldier light Infantry Squad with their associated equipment. The vehicle has a payload requirement of 3,200 pounds to support the Infantry Squad conducting 72-hour operations. The ISV has a maximum vehicle curb weight of 5,000 pounds to meet the requirement for external transport by the UH-60. The vehicle is required to be external and internal transportable by a CH-47 helicopter and airdropped by C-17 and C-130 aircraft.

Infantry Brigade Combat Team commanders employ the ISV to provide mobility and logistics support capability to conduct engagement, security, deterrence, and decisive-action missions. Airborne and air assault Brigade Combat Teams employ the ISV during austere and offset entry operations to provide rapid cross-country mobility to conduct initial entry and offensive operations.

The ISV program provides IBCTs an additive lightweight vehicle to move Soldiers and their equipment quickly over complex and difficult cross-country terrain. ISVs will provide greater mobility to IBCTs, as they are designed to move across restrictive terrain, allowing Soldiers to close on objectives with less fatigue and greater readiness. The Army can deliver the vehicle to the field by airdrop or helicopter, which increases the flexibility of Soldiers on the move.

The ISV’s basic operational capabilities include:

• Nine-man squad carrying capability
• Payload of 3,200 lbs.
• External sling load by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter
• Internal load/external lift by CH-47 Chinook helicopter
• Low-velocity air drop by fixed-wing C-130 or C-17 transport aircraft
• Exceptional mobility over all terrains

"The modernized vehicles will provide enhanced tactical mobility for an infantry brigade combat team to move quickly around the battlefield," said Steven Herrick, Ground Mobility Vehicle product lead, U.S. Army Program Executive Office Combat Service & Combat Service Support, adding the vehicles will have ability for "repositioning operations to provide commanders greater freedom of movement and action.

The Product Lead, Ground Mobility Vehicles (PL GMV) conducted a market survey [W56HZV18R0221] in September 2018 for new production of the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). The potential solicitation (and resulting contract) would acquire Government Purpose Rights to associated technical data, logistical and test support, installation kits and ancillary hardware with the vehicles. The ancillary hardware includes, but is not limited to, Basic Issue Items (BII), special tools, new specialty kits, expeditionary field kits, initial support items, self-recovery winch kits, and extended draw bars.

Dependent upon availability of funds, there was a requirement to procure new vehicles along with hardware, services, and other deliverables detailed within the “Description of Objectives” section. With other customers, the total potential quantity over the years is approximately 2,065 vehicles; at this time, the time period is undefined.

The ISV requires mobility for a 9-soldier infantry squad with associated equipment to move around the close battle area. The ISV is a lightweight, high mobility platform that shall be transportable by all means including vertical lift (via CH47 and UH60) and Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD).

Platform characteristics will be heavily influenced by mobility, payload and by the vertical lift characteristics of the UH60 and internal transport dimensions of the CH47 as defined in MIL-HDBK-1791 and MIL-STD-1366. For purposes of this questionnaire, the ISV shall meet its transportability and aerial delivery requirements at Vehicle Curb Weight (VCW) defined as an empty vehicle with Basic Issue Items (BII), a ¾ complement of fuel, lubricants, coolant, and hydraulic fluid (as applicable). Based on current research and requirements for UH-60 Sling Load capabilities the VCW at a maximum must be 4,800 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) will apply to all other weight requirements. GVW is defined as VCW plus operational payload of Soldiers and their associated equipment and supplies. The GVW will be the VCW with a nine soldier payload (i.e. 3200lbs). The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) will be the VCW plus maximum designed payload.

Military Specific Modifications include Blackout Lights, weapon mounts, Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) paint, 24V electrical, MIL-STD-814/MIL-STD-209K provisions, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Slave and Military Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants (POL).

The ISV shall be a vehicle capable of traversing longitudinal grades up to 60%. The ISV shall be capable of meeting the mobility requirements from VCW to GVW on the following terrain profiles:

The ISV is envisioned as a lightweight, highly mobile open cab vehicle. Survivability will be achieved through high mobility, a roll cage and occupant restraints. The ISV shall be transportable by the following means: C-17/C-130 airdrop including C-17 Dual Row Airdrop System (DRAS), C-17/C-130 internal transport in roll-on/roll-off (RORO) configuration, CH-47 internal transport, CH-47/UH-60 external transport, rail and sea. The ISV shall be capable of operating in Hot/Basic/Cold as defined in Army Regulation (AR)-38. The ISV shall be capable of saltwater/freshwater fording and operating in adverse environmental conditions as defined in MIL-STD-810 (e.g. blowing rain, blowing dust, salt fog, etc.).

The estimated total requirement was for 2,065 vehicles. This procurement may be procured under Other Transaction Authority (OTA) or a FAR Part 12 based source selection. Based on current POM profile vehicle production starting in FY20 is less than 100 vehicles per year.

Timeline

The ISV program began in 2QFY17. DOT&E placed the ISV program under oversight for OT&E in June 2017. In June 2019, the program conducted a Soldier Touchpoint 1 event at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with five vendors’ ISVs to obtain soldier and crew feedback on design, operations, and ease of ingress/egress. The program used the feedback along with performance data to assess user acceptability of the five vendors’ proposals as part of the ISV Other Transaction Authority RPP. The Government intended to conduct the following scheduled events:

1. Draft Requirements release: 1QFY19
2. Industry day: 1QFY19
3. RPP/RFP Release: 2QFY19
4. SSEB/Bid Sample Run off Testing: 3QFY19-4QFY19
5. LRIP contract award: 2QFY20

In August 2019, the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) program selected three vendors to participate in prototype testing, based on evaluation of Requests for Prototype Proposals (RPPs) and results of vehicle sample tests. The Army ws one step closer to fielding a new infantry squad vehicle after naming three industry leaders to develop prototypes, Aug. 23, 2019. The $1 million mock-up contract made strides toward the Army's goal of producing new ISVs in 2020.

• Oshkosh/Flyer Defense – Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Science Applications International Corp (SAIC)/Polaris Government and Defense – Reston, Virginia
• General Motors Defense – Detroit, Michigan

On August 23, 2019 Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, announced that the U.S. Army had awarded Oshkosh Defense along with teammate, Flyer Defense LLC, a Task Assignment award under an existing Project Agreement with the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) to develop the new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). Under the award, Oshkosh and Flyer will deliver two prototype ISVs in support of government testing and evaluation.

“The ISV program is critical in providing infantry troops with an agile means to get to and through the battlefield as quickly and capably as possible,” said George Mansfield, Vice President and General Manager of Joint Programs at Oshkosh Defense. “The ISV platform will also significantly lighten the load for infantry troops, who regularly each carry over 100 pounds of gear on foot,” continued Mansfield.

Flyer Defense is most prominently known for the highly successful GMV 1.1 deployed around the world by U.S. Special Operations Forces as well as the U.S. Army A-GMV, which is fielded as the interim ISV solution. Flyer Defense is the design authority and leads the build team for the two prototype ISVs which will be submitted to the government for testing. If selected, Oshkosh Defense will be responsible for manufacturing the production phase vehicles. “The Oshkosh and Flyer team brings together an abundance of tactical wheeled vehicle design and manufacturing expertise and we’re very confident in our team’s ISV offering,” concluded Mansfield.

Flyer Defense LLC was formed in 2000 to provide mission specialized, lightweight, off-road wheeled tactical vehicles capable of internal transport in rotary and tilt wing aircraft. Flyer provides purpose-built vehicles and logistics support for U.S. Army, special operations forces, and global allies. Always prioritizing the users and their missions, Flyer vehicles increase ground tactical mobility, allow rapid deployment into contested areas, and enable infantry squads to move quickly over extended distances and difficult terrain. The Flyer family of successfully tested and certified vehicles are interoperable and interchangeable, allowing rapid vehicle customization for immediate operational and/or combat relevance configuration.

Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support customers’ missions.

Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) in collaboration with Polaris were awarded a contract to develop the new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) intended to provide 9-member squads. They offer an improved vehicle based on the DAGOR, largest of the Polaris family of military vehicles. DAGOR has been certified for internal and external air-transport to get that mobility and payload where it needs to be quickly. Versatile payload, certified air transport and uncompromising mobility is balanced by an easy to maintain commercial off the shelf design. DAGOR is tested, proven and fielded with the U.S. Army, U.S. special forces and allies.

In February 2019, the Army approved a procurement objective and plans to purchase 649 ISVs. A nine-Soldier infantry squad, along with associated equipment, will comfortably maneuver in the vehicles up to 5,000 pounds.

The scheduled delivery date for all three competing teams was Nov. 13, at Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland for initial assessment. The competing teams include Oshkosh Defense/Flyer, GM Defense, and SAIC/Polaris."Upon their arrival at the Maryland proving ground, all designs will compete in several performance, operational, and characteristics tests. Evaluations are scheduled to run through December," Herrick said.Following their early trials, the vehicles will be moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to undergo their second round of testing. Once there, they would be subject to operationalized assessments through a series of tests on how effective the prototypes work for Soldiers.

"The Army plans to down select to one company for production in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020," Herrick said. "This selection will be based largely on Soldier input and response to a formal request for proposal for production."

The ISVs have been intended to provide ground mobility vehicle capabilities to the Army since the original model. At first, the Army started looking toward industry to develop the new ISV in September 2018. Lightweight vehicles are essential to increase speed in combat and provide ability to be transported by helicopter into austere locations, Herrick said."Ground mobility vehicles provide flexibility for entry operations, permissive and non-permissive, to counter threat anti-access strategies through the use of multiple entry points -- air-drop, air-land, and air-insertion," he said.

The ISV Milestone C decision and down-select to a single contractor was planned for 3QFY20. The Army announced 26 June 2020 it has selected GM Defense, LLC, Detroit, Mich., to produce the Infantry Squad Vehicle, or ISV, to motorize Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. Delivery of this modernized capability is slated to begin with the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, as the designated First Unit Equipped next winter. The contract is valued at $214,297,869 and the Army intends to purchase 649 vehicles. It is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 architecture, which will derive 90 percent of its parts from commercial-off-the-shelf components.

The next steps in the ISV program include GM Defense delivering eight ISVs to Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland within four months. Following delivery, the program office, along with Army testers, will execute an aggressive and tailored testing plan. In Calendar Year 2020, the Army held tailored Production Qualification Testing (PQT) to address the vehicles’ ability to meet the performance specification in areas not previously tested and build confidence in areas already tested. The ISV will also undergo Transportability certification which includes Low Velocity Air Drop and helicopter sling load.

The Army will conduct tailored production qualification testing to address the vehicles’ ability to meet the performance specifications in areas not previously tested. This will also build confidence in areas already tested. The ISV will also undergo transportability certification, which includes low-velocity air drop and helicopter sling loading. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (2-325 IN), 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division teamed up with the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate to conduct airdrop certification testing of the ISV.

In summer and fall 2021, the Army will hold an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. The program office is marching toward delivering ISVs to the first unit, the 1/82nd at Fort Bragg, approximately eight months after the contract award. In total, the U.S. Army plans to procure 651 vehicles and associated hardware and services between fiscal years 2020 and 2024.