# Michigan Firm Wins $13.2M Army Contract

JVIS has launched a standalone defense and aerospace business and won a **$13.2 million U.S. Army contract** for a Silent Watch auxiliary power unit. The award gives Michigan automotive manufacturing a concrete foothold in defense procurement as the state pursues a five-year strategy to attract federal work in ground vehicles, drones, and space manufacturing. For procurement professionals and industry stakeholders, this demonstrates a route for automotive suppliers to apply production capabilities to defense needs, particularly in power solutions and manufacturing capacity.

- The Army award is for a Silent Watch auxiliary power unit; the signal does not provide a contract number or award date.
- Michigan’s strategy identifies ground vehicles, drones, and space manufacturing as areas for attracting additional federal defense work.
- Manufacturers and contractors can assess whether their power-system, applied-research, and production capabilities align with these areas and potential teaming opportunities.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army (Army)
- Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC)
- Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation (ODAI)

### Vendors
- JVIS Defense and Aerospace (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> evolve each day as we deepen partnerships, attract investment, collaborate with private sector and academic partners, access private capital, secure federal opportunities, and advance major efforts to strengthen Michigan’s role in national defense.
> — Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan

> We have got to change the fact that liquid fuel is still the most power dense, efficient way to move energy across the battlefield. We’ve got to change that.
> — Alex Miller, U.S. Army Chief Technology Officer

### Sources
- [Another Michigan auto firm enters defense industry as state tries to revive 'Arsenal of Democracy' - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/10/another-michigan-auto-firm-enters-defense-industry-as-state-tries-to-revive-arsenal-of-democracy) - Breaking Defense