GM Defense Wants to Protect its Military Vehicles Based on the Colorado ZR2 From Drones

GM Defense is teaming up with a technology company to protect its growing fleet of military vehicles. GM Defense is building Infantry Squad Vehicles based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 as well as vehicles that look like the typical Chevrolet Suburbans but are actually assembled on Heavy-Duty Chevrolet Silverado truck frames. GM Defense is contracting with Black Sage Technologies to develop a Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) which is government-speak for an anti-drone system.

GM Defense to Display at Canadian Trade Show May 31-June 1

GM Defense and Black Sage will try to develop the system to protect all of the vehicles that GM Defense is marketing to global defense and government customers at the upcoming defense tradeshow known as Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CANSEC) 2023. The two companies will collaborate on the research, development and market viability of an anti-drone system, on vehicles like the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).

While at CANSEC 2023, GM Defense will showcase a four-seat ISV Multi-Mission and Logistics vehicle equipped with Black Sage’s SawtoothTM C-UAS or anti-drone system. It features updatable software and hardware platforms that deliver data fusion, automated target recognition, threat evaluation, intelligence and surveillance gathering. Additionally, the C-UAS solution uses Black Sage’s groundbreaking Command and Control System, DefenseOS.

“We understand how critical optionality is for our customers, who look for ways to outmaneuver increasingly complex threats from around the globe,” said Steve duMont, GM Defense president. “Our teaming agreement with Black Sage helps us offer greater flexibility to warfighters while continuing to develop mobility solutions that perform in diverse environments. This collaboration enables GM Defense and Black Sage to leverage the synergies of our respective companies, extend battlefield capabilities and showcase solutions that can drive mission readiness.”

“We are excited to partner with GM Defense to advance our On-the-Move C-UAS solution. GM Defense's expertise in vehicle design and manufacturing, combined with our experience in C-UAS technology, will allow us to deliver a solution that is both effective and reliable,” said Ann Wood, Black Sage president. “This agreement is a significant milestone in our efforts to provide our customers with the best possible protection against the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems.”

Black Sage Already a Well-Known U.S. Military Contractor

Black Sage is considered a leader in threat assessment and management technology. The company signed a $900 million dollar deal with the U.S. Air Force, earlier this year, for ongoing development of systems to detect, identify, track, deter, and defeating drones with its DefenseOS command and control software. The company says its DefenseOS enables tailored anti-unmanned aircraft solutions for any environment.

GM Defense Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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