The US Marine Corps has ordered two RIPSAW M3 uncrewed ground vehicles from Textron Systems and its Howe & Howe subsidiary for its Warfighting Laboratory at Quantico, Virginia, Defence Industry Europe reports.
At the laboratory, the vehicles will carry sensors and other payloads in trials, demonstrate possible missions and help the service work out what it needs from future robotic systems.
Textron Systems says the M3 carries more than 5,000 pounds on its flat deck and can drive faster than 30 miles per hour. Its open, modular layout lets the laboratory fit different equipment to the same vehicle.
Textron Systems' vice president of programs, Sara Willett, said the lab work would help the Marine Corps “advance uncrewed force design and battlefield utility”. Howe & Howe senior vice president Michael Howe said the company would help develop technology suited to the service's needs.
