Textron Systems has reportedly been selected as the winner of the US Army’s program to develop its first Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV).
Three sources familiar with the program told Breaking Defense that Textron’s RIPSAW 3 outperformed RCV proposals from McQ, General Dynamics, and Oshkosh Defense.
While the winning vendor has already been notified, the Army is not expected to make a formal announcement until later this month.
Textron’s RIPSAW 3 is a rugged and versatile RCV platform, built to meet tactical needs while maintaining transportability and mission adaptability. Its modular design allows for easy integration of future components without requiring significant structural redesign.
“The RIPSAW M3 exemplifies innovative technology … to support our customers,” Textron Senior Vice President Mike Howe stated. “Designed for ease of integration with a common robotic core, the prototypes delivered represent the decades of experience in the ground robotics space our team possesses.”
Textron also previously won the RCV-Medium prototyping contract before the US Army shifted focus and initiated a new competition for a single RCV size.
Competitors
First to submit prototypes, Oshkosh Defense offered a robotic platform designed for improved maintainability and flexibility in multi-domain operations.
Its “platform-agnostic” RCV offering features modular components for future upgrades.
Meanwhile, General Dynamics submitted two prototypes of its RTX (Tracked Robot 10-ton) robotic vehicle, optimized for transporting heavy payloads without compromising stability.
The platform includes a hybrid-electric propulsion system and artificial intelligence-enhanced design for increased sustainability and efficiency.
McQ’s proposal remains less publicized, though it was previously announced that the company had partnered with HDT and BAE Systems for the RCV program.
