Textron Systems will supply two Ripsaw M3 robotic ground vehicles to the US Marine Corps for experimentation and evaluation of uncrewed capabilities. The vehicles will be operated by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, as testbeds for integrating sensors and mission-specific payloads. The tracked M3 uses a modular open systems architecture, enabling different equipment and systems to be fitted as required. Its flat-deck design supports payloads exceeding 5,000 pounds, and the company lists a maximum speed of more than 30 miles per hour. Developed with Textron subsidiary Howe & Howe, the M3 is part of a Ripsaw family that also includes the M5, A3 and M1. The M5, the fifth-generation model, is designed to accompany military formations and carry up to 8,000 pounds of mission equipment. The M3 combines lessons from previous development and soldier trials with a hybrid-electric powertrain and modular support for payloads, controllers and autonomy systems. The amphibious A3 can travel at over 30 miles per hour on land and five miles per hour in water, while the wheeled M1 is intended for littoral and expeditionary tasks such as reconnaissance, logistics and force protection.
