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New Orleans, LA -
March 19, 2008 - Textron Marine
& Land, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron
Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been awarded a $58 million contract
modification by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments
Command (TACOM) to manufacture 82 additional Armored Security
Vehicle (ASV) variants for the M1200 Armored Knight.
The M1200 Armored Knight is an ASV variant
equipped with a sensor package that is used to locate and
designate targets for indirect fire and laser guided weapons.
The Armored Knight is the only system in production with target
accuracy equivalent to the delivery accuracies of today's
precision-guided munitions, such as JDAM and Excalibur. The
specially configured ASV is used by Field Artillery Combat
Observation and Lasing Teams (COLT) to carry out its missions.
Tom Walmsley, general manager, Textron Marine
& Land said, "We're excited to be awarded this contract
to manufacture additional ASVs for the M1200 Armored Knight
and provide even more protection to our soldiers. This additional
variant of the ASV truly shows the versatility of this product.
We're proud of the field record of the Armored Knight variant,
and the ASV."
The ASV is a light, agile wheeled combat
vehicle with 360 degree armor protection against small arms
fire that can withstand anti-tank land mines under any wheel
and artillery burst fragments overhead.
The ASV vehicle will be provided to
DRS Technologies, the prime contractor for the Armored Knight
responsible for the integration of the sensor and Mission
Equipment Package. The total requirement for the program has
been listed at 531 vehicles. In 2007, 19 vehicles were delivered
to the customer and it is currently anticipated that 83 will
be delivered in 2008 with the remainder to follow in 2009
and beyond.
About the ASV
The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled armored vehicle
that offers significant 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,
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,
and 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 impeccable. More than 1000 ASVs have been deployed
in the U.S. Army operations around the globe. Textron Marine
& Land has built more than 1,300 vehicles to date.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation 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 Geospatial Operations, Overwatch Tactical Operations,
Textron Defense Systems, and Textron Marine & Land Systems.
Textron Systems Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary
of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating
in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 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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