Qatari Special Forces are teaming up with General Motors Defense

The basis of the Suburban Shield is a custom body-on-frame chassis, with armor integrated into the SUV’s manufacturing process

The new Chevrolet Suburban Shield armored vehicle will not only be used domestically by the U.S. Department of State’s security and law enforcement divisions. The heavily upgraded SUV will be used by the Qatari Armed Forces and Special Forces Command in the Middle East, according to GM Defense, although it has not yet been revealed when deliveries to the oil-rich country will begin.

While some armored vehicles trumpet that they are reinforced, the Suburban Shield does not, opting for a more subtle approach. However, that doesn’t mean GM Defense simply slaps on some bulletproof glass and calls it a day.

READ: The U.S. State Department’s new armored Chevy Suburban Shield is ready for anything

All Suburban Shield models ride on a custom body-on-frame chassis and feature new suspension components designed to handle the extra weight. The armor used is built directly into the vehicle’s design and manufacturing process, meaning GM Defense doesn’t have to disassemble the cars, upgrade them, and then reassemble them like aftermarket armor companies do.

“GM Defense’s next-generation Suburban Shield delivers unparalleled performance to the Qatari Armed Forces thanks to GM’s advanced technology,” said Steve Dumont, president of GM Defense. “We designed the Suburban Shield from the ground up as a protected vehicle using GM’s world-class processes and tools to deliver the reliability and quality expected from GM vehicles. We are confident the vehicle will help the Qatari Armed Forces effectively carry out their vital diplomatic security mission and are pleased to see Suburban Shield bringing a new level of sophistication to protected vehicles in the region.”

As standard, the new Suburban Shield comes with GM’s 6.2-litre V8 engine, but customers can also opt for a 3.0-litre Duramax turbodiesel – although we doubt Qataris will prefer the V8. Some features available to regular citizens in the Suburban have been removed, including front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

According to General Motors Defense, the Chevrolet Suburban Shield has independent armor certifications with options and configurations to meet different customer needs. For example, there are two models available, 1LT and 2LT, with the latter including captain’s chairs in the second row and jump seats in the third row.