| New Orleans, LA. - February 12, 2007
- Textron Marine & Land, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc.
(NYSE: TXT) company, has been awarded a $2.8 million contract with the U.S. Marine
Corps Systems Command to build four Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
The initial vehicles will be delivered within 60 days for
comprehensive testing. The Government may order up to 4,100 MRAP production vehicles
for the Marines and other services. Several other companies were also awarded
contracts to build their test vehicles. “It’s an indefinite
delivery, indefinite quantity contract,” said Tom Walmsley, senior vice president
and general manager of Textron Marine & Land. Textron will build two test
vehicles for each of the two different categories of vehicles—a six-person
and a ten-person vehicle. “Our solution for these combat vehicles is based
on our highly successful Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) now being produced for
the U.S. Army.” The M1117 ASV is used by the U.S. Army for
its military police and convoy protection, and for Combat Observing and Lasing
Teams. Its record of performance, reliability and survivability in the field is
impeccable. More than 650 ASVs have been deployed in the Global War on Terrorism
in support of convoy protection and other combat missions. Textron Marine &
Land is currently on contract for more than 1360 vehicles. Production
and deliveries of the ASV are ongoing at Textron Marine & Land facilities
in New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana. The company has responded to urgent U.S.
Army requirements over the past three years by increasing production from one
ASV every three weeks to the present 48 vehicles per month. The manufacturing
facilities have expanded to five buildings and personnel have more than doubled.
The ASV is the latest in Textron Marine & Lands' long history of manufacturing
armored vehicles to protect U. S. servicemen and women, with more than 5,000 armored
vehicles produced to date. The company’s capabilities in armor, specialty
metal welding and vehicle integration make it well postured to execute on such
a program. About the ASV
The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled
armored vehicle that offers exceptional crew protection through the employment
of multiple layers of armor that provides defense against small arms fire, artillery
projectile fragments, and land mines. This advanced armor is exceedingly lightweight
and allows the vehicle to be able to “roll-on/roll-off” C-130 military
transport aircraft. The ASV possesses superior mobility, agility, handling, and
ride quality through the utilization of a four-wheel independent suspension system.
Textron Marine & Land has equipped the U.S. Army Military Police version with
a specially designed dual-weapon station that, unlike many other vehicles, enables
the crew to load, reload and clear gun jams under full armor protection. With
minor modifications and appropriate outfitting, ASV variants can perform a wide
variety of missions including scout, infantry personnel carrier, reconnaissance,
command and recovery. About Textron Systems Textron
Systems Corporation (“Textron Systems”) provides innovative technology
solutions to meet the needs of the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities.
The company is known for its precision smart weapons, surveillance systems, complex
intelligence and communications systems, aircraft control components, piston engines,
specialty marine craft and armored vehicles. Textron Systems is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Avco Corporation. Avco Corporation is wholly-owned subsidiary of
Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry
company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company
leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to
provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around
the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen,
Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron
Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com. Media
Contact:
Kim Reingold, Textron - 401-457-2494
David
Whitaker, Textron Marine & Land - 504-254-6795
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