During AUSA 2022, the Association of United States Army defense exhibition, the American company Textron Systems presents its robotic technology demonstrator Ripsaw M3 which is the small size version of the Ripsaw M5. During the three days of AUSA 2022, the Ripsaw M3 was presented each day with a new payload of weapon systems.
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Textron Systems Ripsaw M3 was presented on the first day at AUSA 2022 with an Electro Optics Systems’ R400S remote weapon station with a 30mm armament on the front, as well as CACI International’s expeditionary mobile air defense integrated system. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
Textron Systems has invested in designing, demonstrating and maturing ground robotic technologies that incorporate features for transportability, mission flexibility, and battlefield agility.
The Ground robotic vehicles are the wingman of the battlefield. As technology advances, so does our ability to protect soldiers. Unmanned ground robotic platforms give soldiers the boost and assistance they need to continue the fight. Textron Systems and Howe and Howe Technologies have developed multiple ground robotic vehicles in a variety of sizes, weights, and power profiles.
The RIPSAW M3 Technology Demonstrator is the newest generation platform within the RIPSAW family of vehicles. The technology demonstrator incorporates the familiar flat-deck configuration from the RIPSAW M5 robotic vehicle and provides unobstructed deck space to accommodate multiple payloads.
The Ripsaw M3 was initially built to address the next big challenge for ground robotics which is wet gap crossing. This new platform has given us the opportunity to incorporate lessons learned from the M5 robotic vehicle platform into a smaller, but mission-capable variant.
The U.S. Army has launched the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program that includes three variants of robotic systems, Light, Medium, and Heavy. The U.S. Army reportedly envisions employing RCVs as “scouts” and “escorts” for manned fighting vehicles to deter ambushes and to guard the flank of mechanized formations.
The Ripsaw 3 could be one of the candidates for the Light version in the U.S. army Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. The robotic system has a weight of around 8 tons and can be transported by a CH-47 transport helicopter. It also has amphibious capabilities and is powered in the water thanks to a waterjet.
The Ripsaw 3 is designed to be used as a multirole platform and during the three days of AUSA 2022, it was presented with different payloads including a 30mm cannon during the first day. On the second day, the Ripsaw M3 was fitted with a Kongsberg’s Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station armed with Javelin missiles, and on the third day with a Kongsberg CROWS turret and an Arnold Defense rocket launcher system.
On the second day of AUSA 2022, the Ripsaw M3 was fitted with a Kongsberg’s Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station with Javelin missiles and an Anduril’s Area-I Altius air-launched effects system at the rear. (Picture source Army Recognition).
On the third day of AUSA 2022, the Ripsaw M3 was fitted with a Kongsberg CROWS in the front and an Arnold Defense modular lightweight Hydra system mounted at the rear. (Picture source Army Recognition)
