Textron Systems and Howe & Howe unveiled the wheeled RIPSAW M1 UGV combat robot during the Modern Day Marine exhibition on April 28, 2026.
According to a report by Defence Blog, the RIPSAW M1 UGV is a wheeled robotic platform built specifically around the Marine Corps’ vision of how autonomous systems should fight alongside its existing armored fleet.
The M1 is only the first variant in a new line of vehicles built on a Modular Open Systems Approach architecture that Textron Systems designed explicitly for scale, marking the beginning of a new family of combat robots.
It weighs around 1,950 kg curb weight and has a gross vehicle weight rating of 2,850 kg, meaning the M1 can carry up to 900 kg of mission payload on its flat deck surface. Its top speed in high range reaches 85 km/h, with a low-range configuration at 32 km/h for deliberate movement.
Its powertrain is electric, delivering around 48 km of silent range — a feature with crucial tactical value, considering that acoustic signature is what determines whether a reconnaissance vehicle can be detected before completing its mission.
“The M1 technology demonstrator shows the art of the possible for how UGVs can support Marine Corps missions,” said Sara Willett, Vice President of Programs at Textron Systems.
“Together with Howe & Howe, we brought our experience in autonomous robotic systems across land, air and sea — the same domains in which Marine Corps missions operate — to develop this system, which demonstrates our ability to scale SWAP up or down while maintaining the common robotic core that enables our UGVs to deliver exceptional transportability and battlefield agility.”
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Photo: Textron Systems. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
