The Ground Mobility Vehicle is a U.S. Special Operations Command, SOCOM program, initially modifying Humvees into several variants for use by the United States special operations forces. Its design is mostly based on lessons learned during Operation Desert Storm, after an initial program, post 1985, for specialized HMMWVs for desert strike operations: the Desert Mobility Vehicle, or "Dumvee". GMV crews like to call them "gun trunks". The GMV program is superseded by the GMV 1.1, based on the General Dynamics Flyer 72. It is understood that under a seven-year indefinite delivery / indefinite-quantity contract, SOCOM wishes to procure 1,297 GMV 1.1s — to replace its 1,072 first generation, Humvee-based GMV units.
Variants
Early models were based on the M1025 Humvee chassis. Later models of GMVs included versions based on the M1113 chassis. Another model based on the M1165 HMMWV can be fitted with armor kits to create an 'up-armored' GMV with additional armor plating and an optional ballistic shield around the top gunner's turret. Variants are:
The GMV has a cruising range of 275 miles/442.5696 km at over 113 kph for operations behind enemy lines with only occasional resupply. GMVs feature an open rear, where an enclosed cabin would normally be. This flat bed area is used to store all the fuel, ammunition, rations and other supplies that the mission requires. Each GMV can carry from 1 soldier to at least 10 in full combat gear and room for enough fuel with supplies to operate in the desert for 10 days. The crew can modified the GMV to meet their specific needs.
In June 2012, the United States Special Operations Command requested proposals for a new, better GMV, version 1.1. By contrast to converted Humvees, the vehicle needed to be lighter, faster, more easily transportable by air, sea, and land, and contain next generation communications and computing equipment. The vehicle was expected to be selected by the end of 2012, with production beginning in 2013. 1,300 of the new vehicles are to be in service by 2020. Vehicles entered were the Northrop Grumman Medium Assault Vehicle – Light, AM General's reengineered GMV design, HDT Global's Storm SRTV, the Oshkosh Special Purpose All-Terrain Vehicle, the Navistar Special Operations Tactical Vehicle, and General Dynamics Flyer. The winner was expected to be selected in May 2013. The decision for the winner was delayed until August 2013 to work through processes in dealing with vendors. The remaining contenders included the AM General upgraded GMV, the General Dynamics Flyer, and the Navistar SOTV. On 22 August 2013, General Dynamics was selected as the winner of the contract, potentially valued at $562 million. The vehicle will replace 1,092 GMVs, with funds to buy the first 101 in FY 2014 at $245,000 per vehicle. In September 2013, AM General and Navistar filed protests over the decision to award the contract to General Dynamics. On December 19, 2013, the Government Accountability Office denied Navistar and AM General's protests. On January 7, 2014, AM General sued the U.S. Special Operations Command in the Court of Federal Claims. The complaint from the case was sealed, with AM General indicating the suit contained "secret, source selection sensitive, confidential or other proprietary information" covered by a protective order issued by the GAO, with a proposed redacted version of the complaint for public release yet to be approved by the court. On 7 April 2014, the US Federal Claims Court rejected AM General's lawsuit, allowing General Dynamics to resume work and continue with the contract.
