Why the U.S. Military Is Rethinking Ground Warfare

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:01]The Infantry Squad Vehicle Heavy is the US Army's solution to one of its most pressing tactical problems.

[00:00:08]Keeping small units mobile, powered, and connected in the most demanding environments on Earth.

[00:00:15]Built to carry up to six soldiers, it moves infantry teams rapidly across difficult terrain while keeping them protected and mission ready.

[00:00:23]What separates [music] the ISV Heavy from every conventional transport on the battlefield is its onboard power system, capable of generating up to 60 kilowatts of continuous exportable power to run radios, sensors, counter-drone systems, electronic warfare suites, and command and control equipment directly from the vehicle.

[00:00:46]On today's dispersed battlefield, where small units operate far from larger support elements, that kind of self-sufficiency isn't a luxury, it's a lifeline.

[00:00:57]Being able to charge batteries, the army is going away from batteries, and it's just getting even more complex and more demanding. This thing can withstand that. That's out of Chavez, and with 310, so 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Johnson. It's really cool, so like we actually did night vision training under nods. This thing is completely silent. You wouldn't know, like I've also tested it just creeping up on people behind them, and they had to turn around like, "Oh my god, like there's a a whole truck behind me." Like it's very it's that stealthy.

[00:01:31]Known during testing as the Next Generation Tactical Vehicle Hybrid, or NGTVH, the vehicle emerged from the US Army's Transforming in Contact Modernization push, an effort focused on rapidly delivering next-generation technology to frontline troops.

[00:01:48]Built on the rugged Chevrolet Silverado platform, the ISVH integrates military-grade upgrades, advanced suspension, and hybrid power technology, delivering endurance and battlefield mobility in a single package.

[00:02:02]Alongside the heavy variant, GM Defense builds the Infantry Squad Vehicle, a nine-passenger ultra-light tactical transport that goes where heavier platforms simply can't.

[00:02:17]Built on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform with 90% commercial off-the-shelf parts, it's an official US Army program of record and it's reshaping how the Army moves troops.

[00:02:33]The US Army has ordered 121 additional ISVs in a contract valued at $18.8 million with total program value potentially reaching $458.4 million.

[00:02:48]At roughly 5,000 lb, the ISV can be sling loaded beneath a UH-60 Black Hawk, carried inside a CH-47 Chinook, or rapidly deployed by C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft.

[00:03:07]11 suspension and chassis upgrades from Chevrolet Performance Off-Road Racing give it the ability to climb steep inclines, blast through mud and sand, and power through terrain that would stop most vehicles cold.

[00:03:24]And riding on 35-in racing tires, the ISV does not slow down until the mission is done.

[00:03:36]Yeah, we're good to go. For JRTC and my platoon's purpose, it has definitely helped us. Mainly for us been trying to um place off of roads and get into heights heights so that way we can stay undetected, hidden, and we can easily deploy our drone assets to do recon.

[00:03:54]So, it maneuvers a lot better through the woodline than I thought it would. It definitely maneuvers better than a Humvee. It's been getting stuck less. If you were taking an ISV into the battle, you wouldn't take it all the way up.

[00:04:04]You'd usually You'd probably pull it into the ORP displace and that gives you less distance to cover on foot, so you're more energized for the battle.

[00:04:12]You have less weight to carry on you and you can just focus on taking mission mission-critical items into the battle with you.

[00:04:22]The rollover protection system was developed using NASCAR safety technology and fabricated with chromoly tubing, delivering low mass, high strength protection, and its frame doubles as a casualty evacuation mount for wounded soldiers.

[00:04:40]Under the hood, a GM Duramax 2.8 L turbo diesel I-4 paired with a 6-speed hydromatic 6L50 automatic transmission delivers the torque soldiers need to move a full load across punishing terrain.

[00:04:56]The ISV is a modular, scalable platform built for configurable optionality across a wide range of mission sets.

[00:05:05]Here's what that looks like in practice.

[00:05:07]Nine passengers, the baseline troop carrier configuration with secured rucksack storage and a mesh restraint net included.

[00:05:16]>> [music] >> Mobile communications supporting electronic warfare and integrated tactical network packages.

[00:05:24]Casualty evacuation with increased capacity to rapidly transport wounded under fire.

[00:05:32]Purpose-built utility variant with additional cargo space and a removable canvas top.

[00:05:38]Direct action with a gun mount for enhanced lethality and mobility [music] during forcible entry operations.

[00:05:47]>> [music] >> Improved visibility with a full height windshield and wiper system for all weather operations.

[00:05:54]Five passenger heavy gun variant featuring a 46-in heavy gun ring, a dedicated gunner position, >> [music] >> and expanded cargo space.

[00:06:05]Silent watch enabled by commercially proven advanced battery technology for improved [music] signature management.

[00:06:13]An electrified ground control with drone capabilities, air-to-ground reconnaissance integration, and exportable [music] power for mission systems.

[00:06:23]All the heavy things, right, that we carry to include our ruck, >> [music] >> um, Javelin systems, AT4s, Carl Gustaf, the Stingers. I mean, you name it, all the stuff that we have to carry with us to fight with now in this list go war, uh, we can expeditiously just strap the strap that down, uh, to the ISV with just some 550 cord or some tape. And if we need to use it, cut it off real quick, and, uh, engage with it. And it kind of it takes the weight off the soldier's back, uh, cuz you can also match your ruck sack on it as well.

[00:06:54]Earlier this year, senior Army leaders brought a challenge to Applied Intuition, a Silicon Valley company specializing in autonomous systems, to take commercial driverless technology and make it combat ready, fast.

[00:07:09]Within just 10 days, the team delivered a fully autonomous ISV paired with a Humvee mobile command post. A glimpse of military need meeting Silicon Valley speed.

[00:07:22]Here at this JRTC rotation with the Applied Intuition team, autonomous ISV.

[00:07:27]They came to our offices and gave us 10 days to retrofit a military vehicle and put on a, um, Applied Intuition's technology, our off-road autonomy stack, and our vehicle operating system, vehicle OS. The key is to make military vehicles smarter. We enable them getting here faster and help them get through a lot of the red tape that traditionally slows down getting the tech into soldiers' hands. Uh we used a contract mechanism called a crater or cooperative research and development agreement.

[00:07:53]>> It has the ability to stream its camera data across the world wherever a commander needs to be watching it. It has embedded target recognition models, so it can see if there's threat in the area and stream that data back. It could also detect any maintenance issues and any uh fault with the vehicle itself, uh low tire pressure, engine cooling, engine temperature problems. It alerts that there's an issue, uh show the soldier how to repair the fault that it has.

[00:08:17]>> Maybe putting a vehicle operating system on it so that other vendors can incorporate their technology, but also adding MMPs or multi-mission payloads.

[00:08:26]So, like a soldier might be like, "I want a robotic mortar system." Or I want to be able to do CASEVAC. Or I want to be able to use my ATEC and call up the robot to come pick me up. So, these are all different avenues we're investigating. You can send the vehicle uh on its own to scout a route to see if there are any issues there before you send a unit.

[00:08:43]>> We're trying to bring in these new techniques, these new technologies, and working with the soldiers so they have the same capability they have on their personal technology in the vehicles they have today and the equipment they're using. We want their kit to be the best kit in the world.

[00:08:59]GM Defense delivered the first ISV in just 120 days from contract award to delivery.

[00:09:07]While light tactical mobility continues to evolve to meet expeditionary needs, the demand for greater protection and combat versatility has also driven a shift toward heavier, more survivable platforms.

[00:09:22]That progression is reflected in the JLTV, which builds on lessons from lighter vehicles by prioritizing protection, payload, and mission flexibility in high-threat environments.

[00:09:36]All right, GO, LEFT FIVE.

[00:09:42]SINCE 2015, Oshkosh Defense has delivered over 22,000 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to the US military and allied governments around the world, and the numbers keep growing.

[00:09:59]The JLTV was built to close a critical gap. A vehicle light enough to move fast, tough enough to survive, and smart enough to keep forces connected in any environment.

[00:10:13]At the heart of its mobility is Oshkosh's patented TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system, delivering 70% faster off-road performance than conventional tactical vehicles.

[00:10:29]Whether it's being slung beneath a CH-47 Chinook, loaded into a C-17, or pushed through amphibious terrain, the JLTV arrives ready to fight. No setup required.

[00:10:43]Protection is built-in and scalable.

[00:10:46]Patented blast protected seats, an automatic fire suppression system, and a proven crew protection system that can be installed or removed directly in the field.

[00:10:59]And when the mission demands more firepower or more technology, the JLTV is ready for that, too.

[00:11:06]With fully integrated plug-and-play C4ISR capability and a payload capacity of up to 5,100 lb on the two-door variant.

[00:11:22]Oshkosh remains the only original equipment manufacturer authorized to supply the JLTV directly to allied nations with end users spanning Lithuania, Belgium, Israel, Brazil, Romania, the Netherlands, and beyond.

[00:11:40]The idea for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle was born in 2006, forged directly out of the hard lessons of the Iraq War. At the time, the US military was built around the Humvee, a vehicle never designed to survive what was coming.

[00:11:56]Most were unarmored, and even the upgraded versions took devastating losses once roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices became the weapon of choice on the battlefield.

[00:12:08]The military's first answer was to bolt on more armor, and it worked, but only to a point.

[00:12:14]The added weight crushed payload capacity, killed mobility, and pushed the Humvee's frame far beyond what it was ever built to handle.

[00:12:26]To counter the growing IED threat, the US rushed nearly 29,000 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles into theater, including the Oshkosh MATV.

[00:12:42]Those massive trucks delivered far better underbody protection, but they came with serious tradeoffs.

[00:12:48]Heavier, slower, and ill-suited for the kind of rough terrain where wars are increasingly fought.

[00:12:58]The military needed something that could do it all, protected like an MRAP, mobile like a Humvee, and built from the ground up for the threats of the modern battlefield.

[00:13:12]The JLTV program was launched to solve every one of those problems in a single design.

[00:13:23]Weighing roughly 1/3 of an MRAP, the JLTV can be airlifted by a CH-47 Chinook or CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter and transported by amphibious ships. Though early deployments with the Marines revealed fit challenges on vessels originally designed around the lighter Humvee.

[00:13:44]It is also 70% faster off-road giving Marines the speed to maneuver quickly and get out of danger zones when every second counts.

[00:13:56]Oshkosh's Core 1080 Crew Protection System adds another layer of survivability combining advanced armor materials, energy absorbing seats, blast resistant floors, and an automatic fire suppression system into a single fully integrated package.

[00:14:16]The JLTV is a replacement for the Humvee. The Humvee was first fielded to the Marine Corps in 1984. It is 1970s technology. It has done a great job. It achieved its mission in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and got us through the first couple years in OIF and OEF in the start of 21st century. But the changing of the battlefield, the requirement to have armor capability with an engine that can basically carry the additional weight [music] necessitated the need for a JLTV.

[00:14:46]The JLTV boasts a 340 horsepower Duramax engine dressed out by Gale Banks as well as an Allison 2500 series transmission.

[00:14:54]Allison is the primary vendor that feeds all our other tactical vehicles so there's a lot of commonality that the Marines will be able to identify quick and be able to fall in on. Also has a armor B kit provided on 100% of vehicles so it's ready to go into the fight. It also has a comm suite giving a VRC-110 radio capability on 100% of the vehicles. It has electrical outlets, has USB ports, and has 12 volt power to attach other uh capability as well as our radios and uh blue force tracker.

[00:15:25]The Humvee is an aluminum-skinned vehicle. It was not designed to be on the forward edge of the battle area. The JLTV has the capability to actually operate outside of a FOB in harm's way and give you the payload protection and performance that you need to accomplish the mission.

[00:15:40]Marines from the 2nd Marine Division partnered with the Office of Naval Research to put the JLTV's lethality to the test at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

[00:15:57]The demonstration showcased a remote live fire using the XM914 30-mm cannon system mounted directly onto a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, proving the platform can carry serious firepower without sacrificing its core mobility advantages.

[00:16:20]It is exactly the kind of capability evaluation the Office of Naval Research was built for, bridging the gap between cutting-edge industry technology and the real-world needs of the Marine Corps.

[00:16:32]We hit it.

[00:16:34]Come on.

[00:16:39]All right, guys. This is, I'm sure, the moment that you've all been waiting for, the inside of the JLTV.

[00:16:45]The vehicle was designed with the soldier in mind. Everything from the CamelBak cutout to the way that the seat goes up and down to fit every soldier in the Army Reserves. One of my favorite features in the new JLTV is the digital display unit. It's a Windows-based system that gives the soldier total control over the vehicle. They're able to view temperatures, uh pressures, and the camera views for the front and the back backup cameras. Okay, guys, this is the new JLTV engine. It has a 6.6 L turbo diesel that's capable capable of producing 340 foot pounds of torque and 660 horsepower. If you guys look, we have the turbo right up in this area that helps the vehicle get up to the maximum speed that it can get up to, which is 76 miles an hour. As you can see, we have up armored windows and doors on the exterior of the vehicle.

[00:17:53]They're capable of withstanding small arms fire.

[00:18:00]And since all of the controls are on the inside of the vehicle due to the seals, the vehicle is capable of going through different operational statuses. From fording mode to operational status to tie down and it it even drops into a loading status.

[00:18:18]The JLTV has also got extra functions on the back of the vehicle as well. It's got an installed rear backup camera that's going to assist with safety and ground guiding while you're in the motor pool.

[00:18:31]Uh speaking of safety, we also have a black box that's installed in the back of the vehicle that is going to record statistics and give the command analysis in case of accidents or rollovers.

[00:18:47]The JLTV also has a Allison 2500 [music] special purpose transmission that's installed on it.

[00:18:56]It runs a two-speed automatic to the drivetrain.

[00:19:07]The JLTV started as a joint Army and Marine Corps program, but in 2025, the Army walked away, canceling all future procurement as part of a sweeping force transformation ordered by the Pentagon.

[00:19:21]Unit costs are set to rise as a result, yet the Marine Corps is not flinching with Commandant General Eric Smith calling the JLTV the workhorse of the Corps's tactical fleet and pushing forward with its mission to replace every Humvee in its inventory.

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