The new generation of the full-size Chevrolet Suburban SUV will become the basis for the official armored vehicle of the Diplomatic Security Service of the US State Department. Equipment for transporting high-ranking officials will be produced by the GM Defense division, which specializes in military equipment and special projects in the defense industry. The contract is for ten years of production.
The new $300 million contract follows a $25 million contract awarded in 2021 to build and fully test the prototype. The tests were considered successful, so the US State Department ordered a batch of serial armored SUVs based on the Chevrolet Suburban from GM Defense.
Despite the fact that visually the car is almost no different from the production Suburban, not counting the thick windows, we are talking about significant improvements to improve the safety of the project. The car is built on a new frame, developed specifically for the project, with a suspension upgraded to accommodate the increased weight.
The armored capsule is integrated into the design of the SUV at the vehicle assembly stage and takes into account all the design features of a particular model. According to GM Defense, the Heavy-Duty Armored Sport Utility Vehicle (HD SUV) project uses a high percentage of commercial off-the-shelf parts, including body, exterior, powertrain, interior and brakes, to make the vehicle easier to service around the world where it is planned to operate. .
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