US Marine Corps Acquires Textron's Ripsaw M3 Uncrewed Ground Vehicles for Warfighting Laboratory
The U.S. Marine Corps has acquired two Ripsaw M3 uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) from Textron Systems. These vehicles are designated for the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) at Quantico, Virginia. The purpose of this acquisition is to assess how uncrewed platforms can support future military operations. The Ripsaw M3s will serve as testbeds for integrating various payloads and sensors. The Ripsaw M3, part of Textron Systems’ family of UGVs developed with subsidiary Howe & Howe, features a modular open systems architecture, allowing for the integration of different mission equipment. It has a flat deck capable of carrying over 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) of payload and can reach speeds exceeding 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour. Textron Vice President of Programs Sara Willet stated that pairing the M3’s capabilities with the MCWL’s mission will advance the Marine Corps’ uncrewed force design and battlefield utility.
