{"id":54030,"date":"2021-01-25T16:06:01","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T16:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/01\/25\/infantry-squad-vehicle-is-a-cramped-ride-but-army-says-it-meets-requirements\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:57:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:57:42","slug":"infantry-squad-vehicle-is-a-cramped-ride-but-army-says-it-meets-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2021\/01\/25\/infantry-squad-vehicle-is-a-cramped-ride-but-army-says-it-meets-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Infantry Squad Vehicle is a cramped ride, but US Army says it meets requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Army\u2019s new Infantry Squad Vehicle<\/a> is a cramped ride and offers limited protection from certain threats, according to a recent report from the Pentagon\u2019s chief weapons tester, but it still meets the service\u2019s requirements<\/a> in tests and evaluations, the product lead told Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ISV \u201ckey requirements are being met and we are increasing soldier operational readiness by providing an operationally relevant vehicle that can transport small tactical units to a dismount point faster and in better physical and mental condition for the fight,\u201d said Steven Herrick, the Army\u2019s product lead for ground mobility vehicles within the Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vehicle was designed for easy transport to operational environments with the infantry\u2019s current rotary and fixed-wing transport platforms. The key performance parameters required that the vehicle\u2019s weight not exceed 5,000 pounds and that it fit inside a CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter. Those requirements \u201cforce dimensional requirements only allowing the vehicle to be a certain height, width and length,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The requirements led to a vehicle that makes it hard for soldiers with all their gear needed for a 72-hour mission to comfortably fit inside and be able to access rucksacks on the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army assessed three vendors<\/a> in developmental testing from December 2019 through January 2020. The service chose General Motors Defense to supply the vehicle to the force<\/a>, with the company beating out an Oshkosh Defense and Flyer Defense team as well as an SAIC and Polaris team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All offerings were capable of carrying a nine-soldier infantry squad with weapons and equipment during movement, the director of operational test and evaluation said in the report. But the Pentagon also noted the ISV \u201chas not demonstrated the capability to carry the required mission equipment, supplies and water for a unit to sustain itself to cover a range of 300 miles within a 72-hour period.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army, however, has assessed the ISV requirement and solution set is in alignment, Herrick said. The DOT&E report, he said, \u201cindicates a desire to include more equipment than a standard nine-soldier squad would carry on a 72-hour mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This lack of space, the report stated, \u201cmay create a logistics and operational burden\u201d and might limit the type of missions and duration for ISVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldiers that participated in the touch point evaluating the vehicles were asked to bring their Advanced Combat Helmet and Improved Outer Tactical Vest with plates; individual weapon; night vision devices; and ruck with three days\u2019 worth of supplies, Herrick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll vendors\u2019 ISVs are cramped and soldiers cannot reach, stow, and secure equipment as needed, degrading and slowing mission operations,\u201d the report explained. During tests \u201csoldiers on all ISVs could not readily access items in their rucksacks without stopping the movement, dismounting, and removing their rucksacks from the vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldier touch point took into account soldier comfort, visibility and ability to execute the mission, Herrick said. This was all factored into the Army\u2019s decision to choose GM Defense\u2019s vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdditionally, no current or planned combat or tactical vehicle allows access to rucksacks while moving to support operator safety,\u201d Herrick noted. \u201cCrew spaces on the ISV are designed to allow mission performance of specific duty tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t