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Orleans, LA - January 14, 2008 - Textron Marine & Land Systems
(TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)
company, has signed a contract to sell seven (7) M1117 Armored Security Vehicles
to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. The contract, valued at approximately $10.2
million USD, includes the anticipated delivery of the vehicles in the first quarter
of 2008. "We are happy to offer the safety, efficiency and
reliability of the ASV to Bulgaria and its effort to support peace operations
in Afghanistan," said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom
Walmsley. "We will be shipping these ASVs as soon as we complete the United
States export requirements that are well underway. Six of the seven will be going
directly to the Bulgarian troops in Afghanistan through the Ministry of Defense." The
contract with Bulgaria includes two years of technical support on the vehicles,
as well as a framework contract which allows the Ministry of Defense to purchase
additional ASVs in the M1117 base configuration, or variants with modifications
needed to carry out various missions. About the ASV
The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled armored vehicle that offers significant crew protection
through the employment of multiple layers of armor, providing defense against
small arms fire, artillery projectile fragments, and land mines. This advanced
armor is exceedingly lightweight and, along with its dimensions, 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 M1117 ASV 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. Current missions
of the ASV include operations with the Military Police, convoy protection, and
Field Artillery Combat Observation and Lasing Teams (COLT). Its record of performance,
reliability and survivability in the field is excellent. Textron Marine &
Land has built more than 1,200 ASVs to date, more than 950 of which have been
delivered to the U.S. Army for use in operations around the globe. About
Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation (Textron Systems) has
been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace
communities for over 50 years. Known for its precision smart weapons, intelligent
battlefield systems, surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, aircraft
control components, piston engines, armored vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems,
Textron Systems includes AAI, HR Textron, Lycoming Engines, Overwatch Tactical
Operations, Overwatch Geospatial Operations, Textron Defense Systems, and Textron
Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Avco Corporation. Avco Corporation is a 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 Company, Jacobsen,
Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron
Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Media Contacts:
David Whitaker
Textron Marine &
Land Systems
(504) 254-6795
dwhitaker@tmls.textron.com
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