Ford's Super Duty Could Become The US Army's Next Tactical Truck

Ford holds a Defense Department contract to build three ISV\u2011Heavy prototypes based on the F\u2011Series Super Duty.

Each ISV\u2011H must travel 250 miles on three\u2011quarters of a fuel tank and separately cover 62 miles in eight hours under a mission profile.

Trucks must supply up to 60 kW of continuous high\u2011voltage DC export power, plus lower\u2011voltage outputs, effectively turning them into power banks on wheels.

Imagine a heavy-duty pickup that tows a trailer all day, then quietly keeps an entire outpost lit up overnight. That's the role Ford is chasing with the F-Series Super Duty in the US Army\u2019s new Heavy Infantry Squad Vehicle program, turning a familiar work truck into a mobile generator and troop hauler.

This is not a concept for an auto show stand. Backed by Pentagon funding, the Army wants a medium tactical truck that can haul soldiers and gear over bad roads while feeding power-hungry drones, sensors, radios, and command gear.

The builder that nails range, exportable power, and durability could land a sizable production deal, and Ford\u2019s Super Duty-based entry hints at where the next generation of hard-use trucks might be headed.

Ford Joins The US Army Tactical Truck Contest

Ford has moved beyond slide decks and into hardware with a prototype contract. The Defense Department picked Ford, GM Defense, and BC Customs to each deliver three Heavy Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV\u2011H) prototypes, all spun from their full-size pickups.

Ford\u2019s approach starts with a Super Duty ladder frame, existing engines and transmissions, and a cab and bed reworked for military tasks rather than weekend towing or jobsite hauling.

The payoff could be big. The Army is eyeing a potential buy of more than 600 ISV\u2011H trucks, which would be Ford\u2019s largest US military truck order in years if the Super Duty wins. GM Defense shows up with a hybrid Silverado HD-based ISV\u2011Heavy that can creep around in quiet electric mode, so Ford arrives as the challenger, betting that its heavy-duty hardware can match or beat that blend of range and low-noise operation.

What The Army Wants From The New ISV\u2011Heavy

The Army\u2019s wish list is tight and specific. Every ISV\u2011H has to travel 250 miles on three\u2011quarters of a fuel tank, then separately cover 62 miles in eight hours on a defined mission profile, which forces engineers to squeeze efficiency out of fuel capacity, gearing, and engine tuning. The program also bakes in right\u2011to\u2011repair and data access, calling for open diagnostics and field-friendly service instead of locked-down software that only the manufacturer can touch.

On top of hauling infantry and cargo, the truck has to double as a mobile charging station. Requirements call for up to 60 kilowatts of continuous high\u2011voltage DC export, plus roughly 15 kilowatts of continuous 28V DC and about 4.8 kilowatts of continuous 120V AC to power battlefield electronics and unmanned systems. In practice, each truck becomes a tactical power bank, a concept that lines up with the generator-style systems Ford already offers on civilian Super Duty models.

How The Super Duty Platform Fits The Mission

Every Ford ISV\u2011H build starts with the F-Series Super Duty pickup, a truck already engineered for big trailers and heavy payloads. With stout frames, serious axles, and proven gas and diesel engines already in production, Ford\u2019s defense team can concentrate on suspension tuning, crew protection, and power export hardware instead of creating an all-new platform.

If you have seen factory specials like the 2027 Super Duty Proud To Honor package or off-road builds such as the AEV-prepped FX37, you know how far this architecture can stretch in ride height, underbody armor, and bolt-on gear. The ISV\u2011H versions go even more utilitarian, trading comfort features for radios, racks, weapon mounts, and the electronics needed to push serious exportable power.

Starting from a high-volume civilian truck also helps with logistics. Like the 2023 Super Duty you can buy, the ISV\u2011H can draw on an existing supply chain for engines, transmissions, sensors, and service parts. That plays nicely with the program\u2019s repairability rules and should make life easier for Army maintainers long after the trucks leave the factory.

Motor1's Take: Ford is effectively turning the Super Duty into a battlefield power tool, and that is what makes this program interesting beyond defense circles. If a truck can reliably serve as both troop carrier and silent generator, civilian versions will likely keep getting smarter about on-site power and upfitting.

GM\u2019s hybrid Silverado HD ISV\u2011Heavy gives it an early edge in quiet running, but Ford\u2019s deep Super Duty parts bin and existing exportable power tech keep this a real fight. However the Army decides, shoppers who use heavy-duty pickups as mobile worksites should benefit from the lessons learned here.

More Military Vehicles: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Won't Get GM Defense ISV Version For Military The Ford F-150 Is Now A Testbed For Army Autonomous Driving Tech

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