GM Defense Unveils Silverado-Based Unmanned Military Vehicle As U.S. Army Requirement Nears 12,000 Units

General Motors’ defence subsidiary, GM Defense, has unveiled a new unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) concept based on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, as the company expands its military vehicle business and strengthens its international defence partnerships.

The announcement was made on October 12, 2026, at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., where GM Defense showcased several technologies designed to meet the changing needs of military forces.

Based on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD dual-rear-wheel skateboard architecture, the new unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is designed to support missions such as silent logistics and casualty evacuation, with functional trials targeted for 2027.

“By transferring GM’s world-class engineering, supply chain and manufacturing scale directly to the service member, we are transforming customer needs into mission-ready capability faster than ever before,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense.

Alongside the new Silverado 3500HD-based UGV concept, GM Defense also displayed its EPIQ Hybrid prototype, a 60-kilowatt/100-kilowatt-hour energy storage system paired with an onboard generator designed to reduce thermal and noise signatures in challenging operating environments.

The latest developments underline GM Defense’s strategy of adapting commercial automotive expertise to support military mobility and operational requirements. GM Defence notes that the U.S. Army’s planned requirement has grown from an initial order of approximately 649 vehicles to nearly 12,000 units.

The company also highlighted its manufacturing capabilities through a contract with Lockheed Martin. GM Defense delivered its first batch of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missile-system housing components just 22 days after the contract was signed on August 6, 2026.

Internationally, GM Defence UK is advancing its Light Mobility Vehicle programme proposal through Team LionStrike, a partnership involving NP Aerospace and BAE Systems. The consortium aims to provide commercially based mobility solutions for allied military forces.

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