Ford Battles GM for Major U.S. Army Tactical Truck Contract

Ford Motor Co. has secured a Department of War contract to build three prototype tactical trucks based on its popular F-Series Super Duty platform, marking a major step toward what could become the company’s largest military procurement program in decades.

The defense contract places Ford Motor Co. in direct competition with rival automaker General Motors and Utah-based off-road vehicle manufacturer BC Customs LLC, as the U.S. Army seeks to modernize its light tactical vehicle fleet. General Motors unveiled its own prototype under its GM Defense unit in 2024, which has already entered field testing with military units.

The competition highlights a broader strategic shift within the Department of Defense to leverage commercial off-the-shelf technologies. Facing depleted equipment stocks and rapid technological advances in global conflicts, defense planners are increasingly relying on high-volume civilian assembly lines to reduce development costs and accelerate delivery schedules.

Ford’s proposal centers on heavy-duty commercial chassis engineering. Company representatives noted that the F-Series Super Duty platform offers extreme durability and scale, supported by the global enterprise parts and service network of Ford Pro. By utilizing existing fleet software and commercial hardware, the company aims to offer cost-effective fleet management and operational uptime for military transport and security operations.

For Ford Motor Co., the tactical truck competition represents its most significant military vehicle program since the Cold War era. During World War II and the post-war decades, Detroit automakers served as primary suppliers of combat and transport vehicles, including iconic light utility trucks and heavy military transports.

The initiative follows discussions Ford held earlier this year with allied governments across North America and Europe to adapt commercial trucks and fleet management software for defense logistics. As global security demands strain traditional defense industrial supply chains, dual-use commercial vehicle platforms are emerging as a core solution for tactical mobility.