Photo: GM Defense
GM Defense was awarded a ten-year contract for the next-generation heavy-duty, armored sport utility vehicles that will be in use by the Diplomatic Security Service.
GM Defense is a subsidiary of General Motors that has been building vehicles for the US Government and Military for years. The new contract signed to build armored SUVs has a ceiling value of $300 million, according to GM Defense. The initial task order is for vehicles, training, and engineering services, all valued at $25 million, based on a development and validation contract signed back in 2021 for prototype vehicles for comprehensive testing and evaluation.
It is a 10-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) full-rate production contract. According to the deal, GM Defense will deliver the next-generation Heavy-Duty armored Sport Utility Vehicles (HD SUVs) for the Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The HD SUVs designed by GM Defense for the US Government feature protective armor integrated into the original design and manufacturing process. The solution is different from the aftermarket procedures, which are based on tearing down the vehicle and rebuilding it with a layer of bulletproof materials.
Thanks to the manner the armored vehicles are built, they come with superior performance and the building process is more efficient in terms of materials use and time needed. The result is a faster vehicle that will be delivered in the hands of the end user.
GM Defense also guarantees additional benefits through a long-term manufacturer’s warranty and extended vehicle lifespan compared to the vehicles that become bulletproof after being manufactured.
Steve duMont, president of GM Defense, says that the awarding of the contract proves the ability of the subsidiary to leverage commercial platforms and world-class engineering and manufacturing processes of GM to provide an innovative vehicle for the Department of State.
duMont hopes that other US government and allied defense, and security customers around the world will count on the GM Defense expertise for the future.
The Heavy-Duty Sports Utility Vehicles that GM Defense builds make use of a high percentage of commerical off-the-shelf parts, such as the body of the vehicle, the exterior, the powertrain, the cabin, and the brain system.
The models supplied by them feature a new and unique body-on-frame chassis and suspension, recalibrated to withstand the extra weight of the armoring and the extra performance. The GM subsidiary will make use of high-end tools and techniques for the low-volume production according to the specifications of the US Government.
GM Defense showed the Heavy-Duty SUV prototype based on the Chevrolet Suburban back in July during the Department of State Leaders event, held at the Summit Point Training Facility in West Virginia. The armoring experts came up with demonstrations of high-performance driving, handling, and maneuverability.
The model is referred to as "The Beast," "Cadillac One," or "First Car," while it is code-named "Stagecoach."
The Beast has the capacity to seat seven people, weighs between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds (between 6,800–9,100 kilograms), and is powered by a massive 8.1-liter V8 petrol engine. Performance figures are top secret.
Joe Biden has recently bragged about the Cadillac after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. Biden also complimented him on his state car, a Hongqi L5, and called it "beautiful."
It is a 10-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) full-rate production contract. According to the deal, GM Defense will deliver the next-generation Heavy-Duty armored Sport Utility Vehicles (HD SUVs) for the Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The HD SUVs designed by GM Defense for the US Government feature protective armor integrated into the original design and manufacturing process. The solution is different from the aftermarket procedures, which are based on tearing down the vehicle and rebuilding it with a layer of bulletproof materials.
Thanks to the manner the armored vehicles are built, they come with superior performance and the building process is more efficient in terms of materials use and time needed. The result is a faster vehicle that will be delivered in the hands of the end user.
GM Defense also guarantees additional benefits through a long-term manufacturer’s warranty and extended vehicle lifespan compared to the vehicles that become bulletproof after being manufactured.
Steve duMont, president of GM Defense, says that the awarding of the contract proves the ability of the subsidiary to leverage commercial platforms and world-class engineering and manufacturing processes of GM to provide an innovative vehicle for the Department of State.
duMont hopes that other US government and allied defense, and security customers around the world will count on the GM Defense expertise for the future.
The Heavy-Duty Sports Utility Vehicles that GM Defense builds make use of a high percentage of commerical off-the-shelf parts, such as the body of the vehicle, the exterior, the powertrain, the cabin, and the brain system.
The models supplied by them feature a new and unique body-on-frame chassis and suspension, recalibrated to withstand the extra weight of the armoring and the extra performance. The GM subsidiary will make use of high-end tools and techniques for the low-volume production according to the specifications of the US Government.
GM Defense showed the Heavy-Duty SUV prototype based on the Chevrolet Suburban back in July during the Department of State Leaders event, held at the Summit Point Training Facility in West Virginia. The armoring experts came up with demonstrations of high-performance driving, handling, and maneuverability.
The presidential state limousine is supplied by Cadillac
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, travels in a Cadillac, which was also supplied by General Motors. The presidential state limousine made its debut back in 2018 with a trip that Donald Trump took to New York City on September 24.The model is referred to as "The Beast," "Cadillac One," or "First Car," while it is code-named "Stagecoach."
The Beast has the capacity to seat seven people, weighs between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds (between 6,800–9,100 kilograms), and is powered by a massive 8.1-liter V8 petrol engine. Performance figures are top secret.
Joe Biden has recently bragged about the Cadillac after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. Biden also complimented him on his state car, a Hongqi L5, and called it "beautiful."
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