Ripsaw (vehicle)

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Ripsaw
Ripsaw M5.webp
A Ripsaw M5 fitted with a Kongsberg RT40 turret in U.S. Army testing at Fort Dix, New Jersey in 2021.
Type Unmanned ground vehicle
Place of origin United States
Production history
Designer Howe & Howe Technologies
Manufacturer Textron Systems
Unit cost US$295,000 (civilian variant)
Produced2009–present
VariantsMS1 (unmanned)
MS2 (driver optional)
Specifications
Mass9,000 lb (4,100 kg)
Height70 in (180 cm)
CrewUp to 2 in manned variants

Armor None (aluminum frame)
Engine Duramax V8 engine
750 hp (760 PS; 560 kW)
Payload capacity2,000 lb (910 kg)
Suspension16 in (410 mm) travel
Ground clearance24 in (610 mm)
Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h)

The Ripsaw is a series of developmental unmanned ground combat vehicles designed by Howe & Howe Technologies (now part of Textron Systems) for evaluation by the United States Army. [1] [2]

Contents

The Howe brothers started the Ripsaw as a small family project in 2000. They introduced it at a Dallas vehicle show in 2001, where it caught the interest of the U.S. Army. Later that year the U.S. military ordered a prototype MS-1 to be made and shipped to Iraq.[ citation needed ]

The Ripsaw is intended to perform various missions including convoy protection, perimeter defense, surveillance, rescue, border patrol, crowd control, and explosive ordnance disposal. For perimeter defense or crowd control, a belt of M5 crowd control munitions (MCCM) can be mounted around the vehicle to break up crowds or engage personnel with less-lethal flash-bang effects and rubber bullets. Cameras provide 360-degree coverage for situational awareness for the operator. [3] [4]

The Army has tested the Ripsaw while remote-controlled by a soldier in another armored vehicle up to 1 km (0.62 mi) away. Its weapon system is modified to fire remotely using the Advanced Remote Armament System (ARAS), a gun that loads its own ammunition and can swap out various types of ammunition, such as lethal and less-lethal, in just a few seconds. These capabilities allow manned vehicles to send the Ripsaw out in front of them and engage targets without exposing soldiers to threats. [5] As of March 2017, the Army was still testing the vehicle as an unmanned platform to test remote controlled weapon stations. [6]

In October 2019, Textron and Howe & Howe unveiled their Ripsaw M5 vehicle, [7] and on 9 January 2020, the U.S. Army awarded them a contract for the Robotic Combat Vehicle-Medium (RCV-M) program. Four Ripsaw M5 prototypes were to be delivered and used in a company-level to determine the feasibility of integrating unmanned vehicles into ground combat operations in late 2021. [8] [9] [10] It can reach speeds of more than 40 mph (64 km/h), has a combat weight of 10.5 tons and a payload capacity of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg). [11] The RCV-M is armed with a Mk44 Bushmaster II and a pair of anti-tank guided missiles. The standard armor package can withstand 12.7×108mm rounds, with optional add-on armor increasing weight to up to 20 tons. If disabled, it will retain the ability to shoot, with its sensors and radio uplink prioritized to continue transmitting as its primary function. [12] The Ripsaw was reported to have selected to continue with the RCV program, [13] but development was stopped in May 2025. [14]

Variants

See also

References

  1. Teel, Roger A. (July 16, 2010). "Ripsaw demonstrates capabilities at APG". Army.mil. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  2. "Textron Systems buys unmanned vehicle developer Howe & Howe". Reuters . January 10, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019. the acquisition, which was finalised in December
  3. 1 2 3 "Weaponized RipSaw-MS2 UGV Evaluated for Convoy Security & Support". Defense Update . December 14, 2009. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Goyal, Nidhi (September 25, 2013). "A 9,000-Pound Tank That's Faster Than a Ferrari". Industry Tap. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  5. Vergun, David (May 6, 2015). "Ripsaw could lead Soldiers into battle someday". Army.mil. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015.
  6. McGarry, Brendan (March 21, 2017). "Army Still Testing Ripsaw, the 'Luxury Super Tank'". DefenseTech. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  7. Textron Rolls Out Ripsaw Robot For RCV-Light … And RCV-Medium. Breaking Defense. 14 October 2019.
  8. US Army picks winners to build light and medium robotic combat vehicles. Defense News . 9 January 2020.
  9. GVSC, NGCV CFT announces RCV Light and Medium award selections. Army.mil. 10 January 2020.
  10. Army Picks 2 Firms to Build Light and Medium Robotic Combat Vehicles. Military.com . 14 January 2020.
  11. Army Setting Stage for New Unmanned Platforms. National Defense Magazine. 10 April 2020.
  12. Meet The Army’s Future Family Of Robot Tanks: RCV. Breaking Defense. 9 November 2020.
  13. Army taps Textron’s Ripsaw M3 for Robotic Combat Vehicle program, sources say. Breaking Defense. 7 March 2025.
  14. Army to cancel planned Robotic Combat Vehicle award, pause howitzer competition: Sources. Breaking Defense. 2 May 2025.
  15. "Ripsaw MS1". Howe & Howe Technologies. Archived from the original on December 30, 2010.
  16. Olaverri, Alex M. RAMP NDIA Brief (PDF). Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2012.
  17. Gould, Joe (October 12, 2013). "UGV models face off over firepower, load carrying". Army Times . Archived from the original on January 27, 2014.
  18. Coxworth, Ben (May 26, 2015). "Howe and Howe unveils Ripsaw EV-2 "luxury tank"". New Atlas. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  19. Ripsaw M5 Electric Drive Super Tank. Howe & Howe Technologies. December 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2019 via YouTube.
  20. "Ripsaw® F4".