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New Orleans, LA -
January 24, 2008 - Textron Marine
& Land Systems (TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron
Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been awarded
a contract modification for $228 million to build an additional
329 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles (ASV) by the U.S. Army
Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM).
"With this additional order, our customer
has again chosen the ASV to protect soldiers," said Tom
Walmsley, general manager, Textron Marine & Land Systems.
“Our partnership with TACOM has allowed these vehicles
to be delivered with the latest fragmentation protection kits,
improving the system survivability even more.”
The ASV has been in continuous combat for
almost 60 months with an organic Operational Readiness Rate
consistently greater than 90 percent.
With this award, the total number of ASVs
produced to date for the U.S. Army or remaining to be delivered
under contract with the U.S. Army is now at 2058 vehicles.
Production and deliveries of the ASV continue at the normal
production rate of 48 vehicles a month with firm contracts
through May 2009.
The ASV is used by the U.S. Army for
its 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. More than 1040 ASVs have been deployed in combat
missions in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Textron
Marine & Land Systems has built more than 1270 vehicles
for the U.S. Army as of January 2008.
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 "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 Systems
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. More
information is available at www.textronmarineandland.com.
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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