In order to be survivable but transportable, the GMV would be lightly armored and use speed, maneuverability, and off-road mobility to avoid major threats.

The A-GMV is configured to carry an airborne infantry combat squad of nine paratroopers, and their gear – a payload capacity of over 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg).

A-GMV is meant to be light and fast and deliver soldiers from a drop zone far from enemy air defenses or indirect fire systems.

The idea was to acquire up to 300 vehicles by the end of 2016 at a unit cost of $149,000, which could decrease if a second increment was bought and stationed at installations for training; predicted dates were not certain as the entire effort remains subject to funding availability.

[citation needed] In January 2014, the Army issued a notice to industry for a commercial-off-the-shelf air-droppable "Ultra Light Combat Vehicle" (ULCV).

[3] The information collated was used to examine the benefit of an ULCV to support mobility for Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) soldiers.

According to the latest program-related documents, the service hopes to find a vehicle that "provides enhanced tactical mobility" for an IBCT infantry squad of nine personnel and their equipment.

The vehicle must be capable of moving "quickly around the battlefield, including the ability to execute medium-distance insertion operations," using UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, according to the document.

The Army said it plans to develop GMV to fulfil requirements "using a commercial off-the-shelf or non-developmental item vehicle," for which a firm fixed-priced contract is to be awarded through an open competition.

The Army never formalized a competitive bid process, but in the interim, opted to purchase a limited number of GMVs through SOCOM's Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1.