GM Defense is eyeing new growth opportunities in the UAE after its Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) completed the 2023 UAE Armed Forces Summer Trials hosted by the United Arab Emirates General Maintenance Corps.

The completion of the trials follows GM Defense’s announcement of a signed cooperative agreement with Tawazun Council at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in February 2023, which will see the companies work together to deliver advanced solutions to military, security and government customers across the region in key technology areas, including fuel cell and power generation, autonomy and connectivity.

Held over several days, the rials evaluate whether vehicles can meet the technical and tactical needs of the UAE Armed Forces and other regional countries. The ISV received certification of completion stating the vehicle successfully passed both phases of evaluation.  

GM Defense’s ISV completed all phases of the trials, which included driving nearly 2,000 kilometres across highways, sand dunes, soft sand tracks and rocky walls with maximum payload capacities.

The trial conditions are designed to test vehicle capability in rugged combat conditions, including extreme climate and diverse terrain. In addition to the mobility trials, the ISV completed the maintenance trial, which included two days of field repairs testing, and maintenance and recovery evaluation to help potential customers assess ease of repairs and sustainability.

“This was GM Defense’s first time sending a vehicle to the UAE summer trials, and our successful completion is a testament to the strength of our ISV and the expertise and dedication of our team,” said Steve duMont, GM Defense’s president. “Through completion of all phases, we’ve demonstrated that we can successfully leverage the advanced technologies of our parent company, General Motors, to deliver a highly capable off-road vehicle that can meet the needs of defence and government customers in the UAE and throughout the region.”

DuMont said the summer trial achievements are a key step forward in GM Defense’s planned growth in the region as it seeks to offer the ISV and its variants to the UAE customer base.

Bradley Watters, vice president of international business development, who was on the ground with other ISV team members, supporting the vehicle as it travelled in deep soft sand and hard-packed surfaces said the vehicle completed eight consecutive days of testing in extreme heat (132 degrees Fahrenheit/56 degrees Celsius). "Completing all phases of the mobility and maintenance trial will help open the doors to new growth in the Emirates.”