The program RCV (Robotic Combat Vehicle or robotic combat vehicle) United States Army It is a strategic initiative that seeks develop Non -manned military vehicles capable of operating in dangerous or complex environments. The main objective of the program is reduce direct exposure of soldiers to high -risk situations, increasing security and efficacy in combat through autonomous or remotely controlled systems. According to Breaking Defense, Textron Systemsa Texas -based defense company, has been chosen by the US Army for Provide them with the Ripsaw M3 robotic tank. Although it will not be officially announced until the end of this month, the winner has already been notified. Textron develops the Ripsaw M3 in collaboration with Howe & Howe and Teledyne Flir Defense.
The Ripsaw M3 is an RCV designed to meet the requirements of the army while maintaining the transport and mission versatility. The vehicle uses An open modular systems architecture (mosa) and a common chassis to admit a variety of interchangeable useful loads, based on a basic configuration with a flat cover. Textron points out that this non -manned robotic land vehicle provides an additional layer of protection to troops in unpredictable environments.
As the most recent generation within the Ripsaw family, the M3 inherits the verified functionality and reliability of its predecessor (Ripsaw M5), But in a more modular system and suitable for missionsimproving both the safety of soldiers and the success of operations, says the company.
The vehicle incorporates the characteristic open and spacious platform of the Ripsaw M5 and has 10 kW output power to admit multiple useful loads, including lethality, recognition and surveillance systems (RSTA), Combat and Logistics Engineeringwith a capacity of 2.27 tons. Thanks to a powerful electric hybrid motor train and a new suspension, the Ripsaw M3 offers superior mobility to other RCV, With more than 290 km of autonomy and a maximum speed of 48 km/h. You can overcome trenches up to 1.22 meters wide, its total weight is 8,165 kg and the flat cover area for modular loads offers a surface of 5.85 m².
The Ripsaw M3 is’ designed for simple integration with a common robotic nucleus, these prototypes They represent decades of experience in the field of terrestrial robotics that our team possesses’he said Mike HoweSenior Vice President, when the vehicle was presented last year.
Since the development of the new RPSaw family began in 2021, Texton has made More than 4,000 km of durability tests prior to delivery to guarantee a robust platform. The Ripsaw M3 includes hardware and software with Integrated security redundancy to improve the security of combatants and operate reliably.