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GM Defense

{{Short description|Military subsidiary of General Motors}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{notability|Companies|date=October 2018}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2018}}

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{{Infobox company

| name = GM Defense

| logo = GM Defense (logo).svg

| logo_size =

| type = Subsidiary (LLC)

| industry = Automotive

| fate =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| founded = {{start date and age|1914}} (1st vehicle)[https://www.gmdefensellc.com/site/us/en/gm-defense/home/about/history.html History] on GMD website

| founder = General Motors

| defunct =

| 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

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent = General Motors

| website = {{URL|https://www.gmdefensellc.com/site/us/en/gm-defense/home.html|gmdefensellc.com}}

}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/general-motors-launches-new-military-defense-division-called-gm-defense/ |title=General Motors Launches New Military Defense Division Called GM Defense|publisher=TopSpeed.com |date=October 9, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018}} GM Defense projects include SURUS (Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure), an autonomous modular platform joint project with the United States Army.{{cite news|url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/gm-developing-autonomous-fuel-cell-multi-use-platform-called-surus/ |title=GM Developing Autonomous, Fuel Cell, Multi-Use Platform Called SURUS |publisher=TopSpeed.com |date=October 9, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.army.mil/article/200366/us_army_tardec_demos_zh2_fuel_cell_vehicle_at_schofield_with_25th_infantry |title=U.S. Army TARDEC demos ZH2 fuel cell vehicle at Schofield with 25th Infantry |publisher=Army.mil |date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/jun/0623-gm-us-navy.html |title=GM and U.S. Navy Collaborating on Fuel Cell-Powered Underwater Unmanned Vehicles |publisher=GM Press Release |date=June 23, 2016 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}

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.{{cite news |last=Willems |first=Steph |date=2017-10-09 |title=General Motors Going Back Into the Defense Business |work=The Truth About Cars |url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/10/general-motors-going-back-defence-business/}}

Current projects

class="wikitable"
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.{{cite news|title=US Army selects GM Defense to build new Infantry Squad Vehicle fleet|author=Ashley Roque|publisher=Janes|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-selects-gm-defense-to-build-new-infantry-squad-vehicle-fleet|date=29 June 2020|access-date=1 July 2020}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/chevrolet-colorado-zh2-prototype-first-ride-review |title=Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 Concept: An Experiment with an Eye toward the Military Vehicles of Tomorrow |publisher=Car and Driver |date=April 1, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1113209_gms-view-of-hydrogen-fuel-cells-great-for-military-use |title=GM's view of hydrogen fuel cells: great for military use. |publisher=Green Car Reports |date=October 11, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.janes.com/article/83683/ausa-2018-gm-develops-next-generation-zh2-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-truck |title=AUSA 2018: GM develops next-generation ZH2 hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck |publisher=Jane's International Defence Review |date=October 10, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2016/06/23/gm-fuel-cells-power-unmanned-undersea-navy-vehicles/86287384/ |title=GM fuel cells to power Navy's underwater drones|publisher=Detroit News |date=June 23, 2016 |access-date=October 17, 2018}} The UUV leverages GM Hydrotec fuel cell technology common with the Colorado ZH2.{{cite news|url=https://www.gmhydrotec.com/product/public/us/en/hydrotec/Home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/oct/1003-zh2.html |title=MISSION-READY CHEVROLET COLORADO ZH2 FUEL CELL VEHICLE BREAKS COVER AT U.S. ARMY SHOW|publisher=GM Hydrotec |date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2016}}

HD SUV

| Light utility vehicle

| An armored, heavy-duty version of the Chevrolet Suburban developed for the U.S. Department of State DSS.{{cite press release |url=https://www.state.gov/the-diplomatic-security-service-and-gm-defense-complete-phase-iii-in-the-development-of-next-generation-armored-heavy-duty-sports-utility-vehicle/ |title=The Diplomatic Security Service and GM Defense complete Phase III in the development of next-generation armored Heavy-Duty Sports Utility Vehicle |date=July 19, 2023 |publisher=U.S. Department of State |access-date=20 September 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gmdefensellc.com/site/us/en/gm-defense/home/integrated-vehicles/hd-suv.html |title=Heavy-Duty (HD) Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) |publisher=GM Defense |access-date=20 September 2023}}

Previous products

Products produced by the former GM Defense in past include:

class="wikitable"
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.

Facilities

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

References

  • [https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/general-motors-launches-new-military-defense-division-called-gm-defense/ General Motors Launches New Military Defense Division Called GM Defense] Topspeed, Mark McNabb, October 9, 2017
  • [https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/jun/0623-gm-us-navy.html GM and U.S. Navy Collaborating on Fuel Cell-Powered Underwater Unmanned Vehicles], (GM Press release) June 2016

Further reading

  • [https://www.gm.com/our-stories/technology/for-dangerous-difficult-demanding-situations-SURUS-is-ready.html For Dangerous, Difficult or Demanding Situations, SURUS is Ready], GM.com, October 2018
  • [http://www.autonews.com/article/20180512/OEM03/180519963/gm-defense-division-military-deployment GM gets defense unit ready for deployment], May 12, 2018 Automotive News, Michael Wayland
  • [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2017/10/09/gm-defense-llc/106462128/ New GM product segment will focus on military], Detroit News, October 9, 2017, Ian Thibodeau
  • [https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/10/general-motors-going-back-defence-business/ General Motors Going Back Into the Defense Business], October 9, 2017, The Truth About Cars, Steph Willems
  • [https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2016/06/23/gm-collaborates-navy-fuel-cells-subs/86282124/ GM works with Navy on underwater fuel-cell drones], Detroit Free Press, June 23, 2016, Greg Gardner

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{official website}}

{{General Motors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gm Defense}}

Category:General Dynamics

Category:Defense companies of the United States

Category:General Motors subsidiaries

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