The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded an acquisition contract to Textron Systems Corporation and its subsidiary Howe & Howe for two RIPSAW M3 robotic ground vehicles destined for the service’s Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, Va.
The M3 vehicles will serve as dedicated experimentation and integration testbeds, providing Marines with the opportunity to integrate diverse payloads and sensors, demonstrate operational mission sets, and inform future military robotics requirements. Built with a modular open systems architecture to provide increased agility and functionality in complex operational environments, the platform incorporates a flat deck designed to carry more than 5,000 pounds of payload while achieving speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour across varied terrains worldwide.
“Textron Systems’ M3 robotic ground vehicles set the bar for speed, agility and multi-mission flexibility,” said Vice President of Programs, Sara Willett. “Pairing the M3’s proven capability and reliability with the MCWL mission to drive future operational concepts and capabilities will enable the Marine Corps to advance uncrewed force design and battlefield utility.”
“For over two decades, Howe and Howe, Inc. has been developing highly capable off-road multi-domain platforms where consideration for extreme use and durability have been paramount design characteristics,” said Senior Vice President, Michael Howe. “The M3 will be a great fit for the Marine Corps and its demanding environmental requirements. Howe and Howe Inc. is not only proud to deliver the RIPSAW® M3 vehicle but also pleased to work closely with the Marine Corps to develop technologies that fit their specific needs well into the future.”
Sponsored under Other Transaction number W15QKN-17-9-1025 with the National Advanced Mobility Consortium, the vehicle deployment leverages Textron Systems’ more than sixty years of development and three million operational hours across multidomain uncrewed air, land, and sea platforms to support evolving autonomous force capabilities.
