Howe & Howe Technologies
An American specialty vehicle developer and manufacturer focused on armored, military-grade, unmanned, and public-safety vehicles.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Howe & Howe Technologies is an American private specialty-vehicle company based in Waterboro, Maine. Founded in 1996 by twin brothers Michael “Mike” Howe and Geoffrey “Geoff” Howe, the business develops, designs, fabricates, and manufactures specialized armored and military-grade vehicles. Its work has covered tracked vehicles, unmanned ground systems, compact armored platforms, and vehicles intended for demanding military, government, industrial, and public-safety environments. The company became particularly associated with the Ripsaw family, a high-performance tracked vehicle platform promoted for military and security applications. Ripsaw vehicles were designed around mobility, speed, and remote or optionally manned operation, helping establish Howe & Howe as a specialist in advanced ground vehicles rather than a conventional mass-market automobile manufacturer. The company has also developed the Badger, a compact armored assault vehicle described in reference material as holding a Guinness World Records distinction for its size, and the SR1, or Subterranean Rover 1, a vehicle intended for operation in confined or underground environments. Howe & Howe’s product portfolio has also included firefighting and emergency-response robotics, notably the Thermite platform. These systems extend the company’s engineering capabilities beyond military vehicles into hazardous-duty applications where remote operation can reduce risks to personnel. The company’s positioning is therefore centered on specialized mobility and robotics for missions that require protection, ruggedness, remote control, or access to dangerous terrain. The business is run by its founding brothers, with Michael Howe identified as president and chief engineer and Geoffrey Howe as chief executive officer and company manager. Its engineering work and distinctive vehicles have received public exposure through the Discovery Channel reality television series Howe & Howe Tech, produced by Authentic Entertainment. The program presented the company’s projects and fabrication work to a general audience, increasing awareness of a business otherwise focused on specialist institutional and industrial customers. In 2018, Howe & Howe Technologies was acquired by Textron Systems. The acquisition placed the company within the broader Textron group and connected its specialty-vehicle capabilities with a larger defense-technology organization. Public reference material continues to describe Howe & Howe as a private business specializing in advanced armored and military-grade vehicles, with Ripsaw remaining its most recognizable platform.
History
Howe & Howe Technologies was established in 1996 by twin brothers Michael Howe and Geoffrey Howe in Maine. The company developed as a specialist engineering and manufacturing business rather than a conventional vehicle producer, concentrating on armored, tracked, unmanned, and military-grade platforms. Its work combined vehicle fabrication with systems designed for remote operation and difficult operating conditions. The Ripsaw family became the company’s best-known development. The tracked platform was associated with high-speed off-road mobility and combat or security applications, and reference material describes it as the world’s fastest dual-tracked vehicle. Howe & Howe also produced the Badger, a small armored assault vehicle recognized in reference material by Guinness World Records as the world’s smallest armored assault vehicle, and the SR1, or Subterranean Rover 1, intended for underground or confined environments. The company’s activities extended into emergency-response robotics. The Thermite firefighting robot was developed for hazardous fire environments where remote operation could help protect human firefighters. This broadened the company’s profile from defense-oriented vehicles to public-safety and industrial applications. Howe & Howe’s projects attracted wider public attention through the Discovery Channel reality series Howe & Howe Tech, produced by Authentic Entertainment. The program documented the company’s vehicle-development and fabrication activities for a general television audience. Within the business, Michael Howe served as president and chief engineer while Geoffrey Howe served as chief executive officer and company manager. In 2018, Textron Systems acquired Howe & Howe Technologies. The transaction integrated the Maine-based specialist into Textron’s broader defense-technology portfolio. Howe & Howe remains identified with advanced armored vehicles, tracked systems, robotics, and other specialized platforms.
Products and positioning
Specialized armored, robotic, and unmanned vehicles for military, government, industrial, and public-safety users.
Tracked military and unmanned vehicle
Ripsaw
The Ripsaw is Howe & Howe’s best-known tracked vehicle family. It is associated with high-performance off-road mobility, armored or military applications, and unmanned or remotely operated configurations. Reference material describes the platform as the world’s fastest dual-tracked vehicle. Ripsaw vehicles helped define the company’s identity as a developer of specialized combat and security platforms rather than standard commercial vehicles.
Firefighting robot
Thermite
Thermite is a remote-operated firefighting robot designed for hazardous fire-response situations. Its purpose is to allow firefighting equipment to be deployed in environments that may be too dangerous for personnel, extending Howe & Howe’s engineering work into public safety and emergency response. The platform is part of the company’s broader portfolio of rugged unmanned vehicles.
Compact armored assault vehicle
Badger
Badger is a compact armored assault vehicle developed by Howe & Howe. Reference material identifies it as having been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s smallest armored assault vehicle. Its small scale illustrates the company’s focus on specialized platforms designed for missions where compact dimensions and protected mobility are important.
Specialized unmanned ground vehicle
SR1 (Subterranean Rover 1)
The SR1, or Subterranean Rover 1, is a specialized vehicle associated with underground and confined-environment operations. It represents Howe & Howe’s interest in purpose-built unmanned or remotely operated platforms capable of working in locations that are difficult or hazardous for conventional vehicles and personnel.
Marketing campaigns
- Howe & Howe Tech television series
United States
Howe & Howe Technologies was featured in a Discovery Channel reality television series titled Howe & Howe Tech. Produced by Authentic Entertainment, the program showcased the company’s engineering, fabrication, and specialty-vehicle projects.
Outcome. The series increased public visibility for the company and its unusual armored and robotic vehicles.
Brand decisions
2018
Acceptance of Textron Systems acquisitionM&ABackground
Howe & Howe Technologies operated as a private specialist vehicle company before becoming part of Textron Systems.
Action taken
Textron Systems acquired the company and incorporated its capabilities into the broader Textron defense-technology group.
Aftermath
The acquisition placed Howe & Howe’s armored, tracked, and unmanned-vehicle expertise within a larger defense-sector organization.
Recent events
- 2018
Textron Systems acquires Howe & Howe Technologies[1]
M&A
Howe & Howe Technologies was acquired by Textron Systems, bringing its specialty armored-vehicle and unmanned-ground-vehicle capabilities into the Textron group.
Howe & Howe Tech receives Discovery Channel exposure[1]
Campaign
The company was featured in Howe & Howe Tech, a reality television series produced by Authentic Entertainment for the Discovery Channel.
Sources3 sources
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