FORT BELVOIR, Va., — April 4, 2026 : The U.S. Army has formally launched a competitive procurement process for the Infantry Squad Vehicle–Heavy (ISV-H), a new variant of its existing Infantry Squad Vehicle designed to support command, sensor, and combat support roles in dispersed operations. The solicitation, issued by Army Contracting Command–Detroit Arsenal under notice W912CH-26-S-C005, outlines a requirement for 606 vehicles.
The ISV-H program represents a transition from the lighter troop transport-focused ISV toward a platform capable of supporting brigade and division-level missions. Unlike the standard ISV, which carries a nine-soldier squad, the ISV-H is configured for smaller formations and will function as a mobile node for power generation, communications, and mission systems integration.
Program Scope and Operational Role
According to procurement documents, the ISV-H will be employed primarily within division and brigade formations, including Mobile Brigade Combat Teams operating in distributed environments. The vehicle is intended to support a range of roles beyond personnel transport, including command and control, sensor deployment, electronic warfare, and counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).
The Army is prioritizing the use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) or non-developmental platforms to accelerate fielding timelines and reduce technical risk. The approach emphasizes minimal modification of existing vehicle designs while ensuring compatibility with military mission systems.
Technical Requirements and Performance Criteria
The ISV-H must meet a defined set of performance specifications balancing payload capacity, mobility, and deployability.
The vehicle is required to carry a six-person crew with full equipment and support a total payload capacity of 1,814 kilograms (4,000 pounds). In addition, it must be capable of towing trailers weighing up to 2,948 kilograms (6,500 pounds).
Mobility requirements include the ability to traverse steep gradients, operate across rugged off-road terrain, and ford water obstacles up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) deep. The platform must also meet strict transportability constraints, allowing deployment via C-5, C-17, and C-130 aircraft, as well as external sling-load operations using CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
The interior configuration must be modular, enabling rapid reconfiguration of rear seating for casualty evacuation or transport of specialized mission equipment.
Integrated Power Generation Capability
A central requirement of the ISV-H is its role as a mobile power generation platform. The vehicle must provide up to 60 kilowatts of continuous exportable electrical power, including both 28-volt direct current (DC) and 120-volt alternating current (AC) outputs.
This onboard power capability is intended to support a wide range of mission systems, including communications equipment, unmanned aerial and ground system control stations, counter-drone systems, radar sensors, electronic warfare suites, and potential directed-energy applications. The requirement reflects the Army’s increasing emphasis on integrating power-intensive technologies into mobile tactical formations.
Acquisition Strategy and Evaluation Phases
The ISV-H competition will follow a phased acquisition process designed to reduce development timelines and enable rapid transition to production.
In Phase I, participating companies will submit conceptual proposals, conduct oral presentations, and provide detailed commercial submissions. The Army may select up to three vendors to proceed to the next stage.
Phase II will involve the development of prototype vehicles, with up to three prototypes funded per selected vendor. These prototypes will undergo military testing and evaluation under operational conditions.
Successful completion of testing may lead directly to low-rate initial production or full-rate production contracts. The Army has not specified a detailed timeline for selection or production decisions beyond the phased structure.
Maintainability and Right to Repair Provisions
The solicitation includes provisions emphasizing long-term maintainability and operational independence. Future contracts are expected to incorporate Right to Repair requirements, granting the Army access to technical manuals, schematics, proprietary software, diagnostic tools, and detailed spare parts data.
This approach is intended to reduce reliance on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for maintenance and enable soldiers to conduct repairs in austere or contested environments, while also lowering lifecycle sustainment costs.
Relationship to Existing ISV Program
The ISV-H builds on the Infantry Squad Vehicle program initiated in 2020. The original ISV, produced by GM Defense and based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform, was designed as a lightweight, high-mobility transport vehicle using approximately 90 percent commercial components. It carries a nine-soldier squad and supports rapid deployment via air transport and airdrop.
As of early 2026, the Army has fielded hundreds of ISVs, with additional units awarded to GM Defense in March 2026 as part of ongoing procurement.
The heavier ISV-H variant addresses capability gaps identified in operational use, particularly the need for a platform capable of supporting power-intensive systems and acting as a mobile command and support hub.
Testing and Technology Demonstrations
Prototype concepts aligned with ISV-H requirements have already been evaluated in field exercises. During the Ivy Sting IV exercise at Fort Carson, Colorado, in early 2026, soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division assessed vehicle mobility and onboard power capabilities in distributed operational scenarios.
In parallel, the Army has explored enabling technologies through demonstrator platforms such as the Next Generation Tactical Vehicle (NGTV), a hybrid-electric system based on the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2. The NGTV serves as a testbed for power generation and integration capabilities relevant to the ISV-H program.
Broader Modernization Context
The ISV-H competition aligns with the Army’s broader modernization efforts under the “Transformation in Contact” initiative, which focuses on enhancing agility, mobility, and operational endurance of forward-deployed units.
The program reflects an evolving requirement for tactical vehicles that not only transport personnel but also sustain digital networks, sensor systems, and electronic warfare capabilities in contested environments.
The solicitation remains open to qualified industry participants, with further details available through official Army procurement channels.
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