The US Marine Corps is acquiring two Ripsaw M3 robotic ground vehicles from Textron Systems to evaluate the potential role of uncrewed platforms in future military operations. The vehicles will be assigned to the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory at Quantico, Virginia, where they will serve as test platforms for integrating mission payloads and sensors. The tracked Ripsaw M3 features a modular open systems architecture that allows different equipment to be incorporated according to operational requirements. Its flat deck can carry more than 5,000 pounds (2,267kg) of payload, while Textron says the vehicle can reach speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour (48km/h). Developed by Textron Systems with its subsidiary Howe & Howe, the M3 belongs to a broader family of Ripsaw uncrewed ground vehicles that includes the M5, A3 and M1 variants. The fifth-generation M5 is designed to manoeuvre alongside military formations and carry mission-specific equipment on a modular flat deck, with a stated payload capacity of 8,000 pounds (3,628kg). The smaller M3 incorporates experience from earlier Ripsaw development and soldier experimentation. Its hybrid-electric powertrain supports electric operation, while its modular architecture accommodates different payloads, controllers and autonomy systems. The A3 is an amphibious variant capable of operating at speeds above 30 miles per hour (48km/h) on land and five miles per hour (8km/h) in water. The wheeled M1 is designed for littoral and expeditionary missions, including reconnaissance, logistics and force protection.
