GM Defense is set to supply the Qatar Armed Forces and Special Forces Command with its next-generation Suburban Shield armored vehicles. Built on the foundation of General Motors’ commercial trucks and sport utility vehicles, the Suburban Shield serves as an armored protected mobility solution tailored for diplomatic security and VIP transport.
The manufacturer said the vehicle incorporates GM’s latest technologies and safety features, providing enhanced handling, traction control and braking power. With a robust body-on-frame chassis and a suspension system designed to accommodate increased weight and performance demands, the Suburban Shield is engineered for effectiveness in diverse operational environments. It has also received independent certification and can be configured to meet specific customer needs.
Stephen duMont, president of GM Defense and a Wash100 awardee in 2023, expressed his confidence in the vehicle’s capabilities, stating that the Suburban Shield will empower the Qatar Armed Forces to carry out their diplomatic security missions effectively. “We engineered the Suburban Shield from the ground up as a protected vehicle using GM’s world-class process and tools to deliver the reliability and quality expected from a GM vehicle,” he said.
In addition to Qatar, GM Defense provides customized Suburban Shields to the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The latest contract follows GM Defense’s $36 million contract with the Canadian Armed Forces for 90 light tactical vehicles through GM Defense Canada. The LTVs, based on a design currently used by the U.S. Army, will support the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Multinational Battlegroup in Latvia.