What Howe and Howe Technologies does

Howe & Howe Technologies, Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated, Waterboro, Maine-based designer and manufacturer of tracked ground robotic vehicles, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Systems Corporation (itself a subsidiary of Textron Inc., NYSE: TXT). The company, founded by twin brothers Geoff and Michael Howe in 2001 and acquired by Textron Systems on December 17, 2018, builds two product lines: civil robotic platforms — most prominently the Thermite family of firefighting robots (RS1, RS3, EV1, EV2), the SWAT-BOT mobile ballistic shield, and the Big Dog 4x4 wildland fire truck — and defense unmanned ground vehicles, including the RIPSAW M3 and M5 robotic combat vehicles, the RS2-H1/Grizzly small ground robotic vehicle and Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport, and the ACES platform. Core technology comprises high-torque hybrid-electric and battery-electric drivetrains, Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) chassis architectures supporting interchangeable mission payloads, and rubber-tracked platforms engineered for extreme terrain. The company monetizes primarily through hardware sales of these robotic platforms, supplemented by on-site training and after-sale support.

Revenue is generated from a concentrated base of government and institutional customers. Direct enterprise sales via parent Textron Systems secure defense contracts, including RIPSAW M3 prototype deliveries (October 2024) and RIPSAW M5 deliveries to the U.S. Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program and a December 2025 sale to the government of Sweden. Domestic commercial firefighting robot sales flow through authorized distributor Municipal Emergency Services (MES) Fire, with the Los Angeles City Fire Department representing the first U.S. commercial acquisition of a robotic firefighting vehicle. Customer engagement is event-driven (FDIC International, AUSA Annual Meeting, Global Force Symposium, Singapore Airshow) and supported by on-site training deployments — including in Ukraine with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) for first-responder certification.

The company competes in a niche dual-use robotics market where its primary differentiators are first-mover status in commercial robotic firefighting, the proprietary tracked drivetrain platform, MOSA-based modularity, and the financial and contracting leverage of the Textron parent. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; revenue is not separately reported because the entity is consolidated within Textron Systems' financials.

Name

Howe and Howe Technologies

Legal name

Howe & Howe Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://howeandhowe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Howe & Howe Technologies, a subsidiary of Textron Systems, designs and manufactures tracked ground robotic vehicles for dual-use defense and civil applications, serving the U.S. Army, allied governments, and municipal fire departments with Thermite firefighting robots and RIPSAW unmanned ground vehicles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Ground Robotic Vehicles

NAICS

Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing (336992)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military & Tactical Off-Highway Vehicles (Armored, Tactical Mobility) (IMAHAIAJ), Turrets, Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) & Armament Integration (IMABAJAI)

Keywords

• Unmanned ground vehicles
• Firefighting robots
• Robotic combat vehicles
• Tactical robotics
• Extreme terrain vehicles

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Defense Ground Robotic Vehicle Sales: Sale of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) including RIPSAW M3 and RIPSAW M5 to government defense customers such as the U.S. Army (RCV program) and allied governments (Sweden). Revenue recognized upon delivery of vehicles.
2. Civil Firefighting Robot Sales: Sale of Thermite firefighting robots (RS1, RS3, EV1, EV2) and Swat-Bot to fire departments, first responder agencies, and municipal customers. Distributed directly and through authorized distributor Municipal Emergency Services (MES) Fire.
3. Defense Contract Revenue (via Textron Systems): Revenue from U.S. Army programs including the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Medium program and related defense contracts, flowing through parent company Textron Systems.
4. Training and Support Services: On-site training services for first responders using Thermite robots, including sending personnel to customer locations for hands-on training and demonstration. Also includes after-sale support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Howe and Howe Technologies designs, engineers, and manufactures tracked robotic ground vehicles for both civil and defense applications. Its civil product line centers on the Thermite family of firefighting robots (RS1, RS3, EV1, EV2), the SWAT-BOT mobile ballistic shield, and the Big Dog wildland fire truck. Its defense line includes the RIPSAW M3 and M5 robotic combat vehicles, the RS2-H1/Grizzly small ground vehicle, and the ACES unmanned platform, all built around modular architectures for extreme-terrain mobility.

Product overview

Howe & Howe Technologies, a subsidiary of Textron Systems, specializes in advanced robotic ground vehicles for both civil and defense applications. The product portfolio consists of two main lines: civil products (Thermite firefighting robots including RS1, RS3, EV1, and EV2 variants; Swat-Bot tactical robot; Big Dog wildland fire truck) and defense products (RIPSAW M3 and M5 robotic combat vehicles for the U.S. Army's RCV program; RS2-H1/Grizzly small ground robotic vehicle for SMET; and ACES uncrewed ground vehicles). The company pioneered the world's first and only purpose-built robotic firefighting solution with the Thermite family, while also developing military-grade unmanned ground vehicles including the world's fastest tank (RIPSAW) and smallest armored vehicle (Badger). All products share core technology platforms enabling extreme mobility across challenging terrains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thermite: The United States' First Commercial Firefighting Robot - family of robotic firefighting vehicles including RS1, RS3, EV1, and EV2 models.
• Swat-Bot
• Big Dog
• RIPSAW
• RS2-H1
• Grizzly

Products and services

• Thermite RS3 Super-high volume, low center of gravity firefighting robot with rugged terrain navigation. Modular design accommodates a plow assembly and integrated winch, with power to push vehicles and pull up to 8,000 pounds. Used by municipal fire departments for structure fires, brush fires, hazardous materials incidents, and urban search and rescue.
• Thermite EV2 All-electric firefighting robot operated by a software-driven handheld controller. Multi-position nozzle, modular design, battery-powered operation that does not require oxygen, enabling use in high-temperature, oxygen-deprived hazardous environments.
• Thermite EV1 Electric firefighting robot with up to 20 hours of continuous operation. Lighter weight and smaller footprint than other Thermite models, with standoff range exceeding 300 meters and advanced battery technology suited to hazardous environments.
• Thermite RS1 Compact firefighting robot used for training at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and for first-responder deployment. Part of the Thermite family of robotic firefighters.
• SWAT-BOT All-electric mobile ballistic shield all-terrain robot providing full-body coverage for tactical teams, allowing team members to engage both hands during missions. Originally developed with the Massachusetts State Police and Southern Maine Special Response Team.
• Big Dog 4x4 wildland fire truck designed for extreme firefighting operations and medical transport in rugged terrain. Part of the civil product lineup.
• RIPSAW M3 Rugged robotic combat vehicle leveraging Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA). Features a hybrid-electric powertrain, high ground clearance, composite rubber track system, and over 180 miles of range. Down-selected for the U.S. Army RCV Phase I program.
• RIPSAW M5 Fifth-generation multi-mission robotic combat vehicle with scalable armor, suspension, and drive options, hybrid engine for stealth maneuvers, real-time situational awareness, remote weapons stations, and terrain engagement systems. Four vehicles delivered to the U.S. Army for the RCV Medium program.
• RS2-H1 / Grizzly Small Ground Robotic Vehicle and Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) with a high-torque hybrid diesel-electric drive, zero-turn radius, modular design, and 4 kW of offloadable power for mission equipment. Supports payloads including IED-defeat rakes, counter-UAV systems, remote weapons systems, and follow-me autonomy.
• ACES (Advanced Capability Enhanced System) Uncrewed ground vehicle platform developed by Howe & Howe for various military and defense applications.
• Badger

Quantifiable outcome

• First commercial sale of a robotic firefighting vehicle in the United States, marking a new category in the firefighting equipment market
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Teledyne FLIR DefensecoreTechnology or Integration · 14 October 2019Team RIPSAW is a collaboration between Textron Systems, its subsidiary Howe & Howe, and Teledyne FLIR Defense (formerly FLIR Systems). Teledyne FLIR Defense provides intelligent sensors, 360-degree situational awareness cameras, surveillance gimbals, tethered drones, and unmanned systems expertise. The partnership combines ground robotics platforms (Howe & Howe) with sensing technology (Teledyne FLIR Defense) to deliver comprehensive robotic combat vehicles to the U.S. Army's RCV program.
• Textron Systems CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTextron Systems acquired Howe & Howe Technologies, finalizing the acquisition on December 17, 2018. Howe & Howe operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Systems Corporation, which is a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company. Textron Systems leverages Howe & Howe's ground robotics expertise alongside its own unmanned air, surface, and maritime capabilities to provide integrated autonomous solutions across all domains.
• State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowe & Howe traveled to Ukraine to demonstrate, test, and train Ukrainian first responders with the Thermite RS3 robotic firefighter. Training conducted in partnership with SESU and the Lviv State University of Life Safety. SESU noted that Howe & Howe is unique in sending personnel to Ukraine for in-country training and ongoing support.
• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowe & Howe is collaborating with TEEX to add Thermite firefighting robot platforms (RS1, RS3) to TEEX's emergency response training services. Howe & Howe loans equipment and provides hands-on training demonstrations, enabling first responders who train at TEEX to gain experience with state-of-the-art robotic firefighting technology. TEEX provides valuable customer feedback for product improvements.
• Municipal Emergency Services (MES) FirecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMES Fire serves as the authorized sales distributor for domestic commercial firefighting robot sales. The first domestic commercial sale of the Thermite RS3 to the Los Angeles City Fire Department was completed through MES Fire.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• QinetiQ: Manufacturer of the Talon family of tracked unmanned ground vehicles, deployed with U.S. and allied militaries for EOD, reconnaissance and security missions. Direct peer in tactical tracked UGVs for defense and security forces.
• BAE Systems: Competing prime on U.S. Army RCV programs and a major defense ground vehicle manufacturer with unmanned ground vehicle initiatives. Directly comparable in customer set, program participation, and tracked-vehicle product line.
• HDT Global: Manufacturer of unmanned ground vehicles including the Hunter WOLF (Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport / SMET) and other tactical robotics for the U.S. Army and allied forces. Direct competitor in SMET-class and tactical UGV categories.
• General Dynamics Land Systems: Prime contractor on U.S. Army RCV tranches (notably the Tracked Robot 10-ton / RCV-Light effort) and a major manufacturer of tracked armored vehicles. Competes head-to-head with Team RIPSAW for Army RCV program vehicles.

Emerging players

• Ghost Robotics: Maker of quadruped unmanned ground robots (Vision 60, Spirit 40) used by U.S. Army, DIU, and allied forces for perimeter security, reconnaissance, and payload integration. Overlaps with Howe & Howe in defense UGV autonomy and modular payload integration, but uses a different mobility platform.
• Boston Dynamics: Maker of Spot (quadruped) and Stretch (warehouse logistics) mobile robots, with growing defense and public safety adoption for reconnaissance and hazardous environment inspection. Comparable in mobile autonomy, modular payload integration, and dual-use commercial/governmental positioning.
• Milrem Robotics: Estonian developer of the THeMIS tracked unmanned ground vehicle and Type-X robotic combat vehicle, with growing U.S. and European defense traction. Comparable hybrid-electric tracked UGV concept targeting similar defense and security applications.

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin: Major defense prime with multi-domain autonomy programs (air, sea, land) and a relevant rival for cross-domain autonomous system integrations that include ground robotics. Broader portfolio but overlaps in defense customer relationships and autonomous platform programs.
• Textron Systems: Howe & Howe's parent company and the lead prime on the Team RIPSAW effort. Textron Systems builds uncrewed air, surface and maritime systems and integrates Howe & Howe's ground vehicles into multi-domain autonomy offerings, making it the closest sibling/partner in the UGV space.
• Oshkosh Defense: Manufacturer of tactical wheeled vehicles (JLTV, FMTV, HEMTT) and increasingly active in autonomous and robotic logistics platforms for the U.S. Army. Adjacent incumbent competing for ground vehicle autonomy and SMET-class opportunities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9BOShfkhPPVcp6djG7BiNg
• Facebookfacebook.com/188236245889
• Xx.com/howeandhowetech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/howeandhowe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Howe and Howe Technologies