Santa
Clarita, CA - March 7, 2006 - HR Textron
Inc., Santa Clarita, CA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)
and an Operating Unit of Textron Systems, has announced its commitment to help
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) produce an affordable, fully mission capable, Advanced
Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) increment II that meets the Army's cost requirements.
Lockheed Martin is competing to design, develop and produce APKWS II.
Lockheed
Martin recently announced the selection of HR Textron to provide the control actuation
system (CAS). The CAS will be produced at HR Textron's facility in Santa Clarita,
California.
"HR Textron's warm production lines
and extensive experience will help us reduce both cost and risk," said Steve
Barnoske, director for Tactical Missiles, at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire
Control. "For example, HR Textron produces more than 3,000 control actuation
systems per month for the Joint Direct Attack Munition. Coupled with our existing
seeker and missile production lines in Ocala, FL, and Troy, AL, our team is best
qualified to offer and deliver an affordable APKWS II solution. We are ready to
do this."
"Our advanced technology solutions
meet the needs of the global defense and aerospace industries," said Ray
Scarcello, vice president of Actuation and Control Products, HR Textron. "We
have a proven track record for control actuation system reliability and subcontract
performance in cost and schedule."
"This
performance has made HR Textron the world's largest supplier of control systems
for precision weapons. Our control solutions are in use on some of the most advanced
systems in the U.S. military's arsenal of guided munitions," Scarcello added.
The APKWS II is a 2.75-inch laser-guided rocket that will
provide crews of the U.S. Army Apache and Marine Corps Cobra attack helicopters
and other platforms with precision-strike capability against non-armored targets
that do not require a 7-inch HELLFIRE missile-an option not presently available.
This low-cost alternative will destroy non-armored, high-value targets that are
close to civilian assets and/or friendly forces. The U.S.
Army intends to execute the contract in April 2006 with low-rate initial production
planned to begin in 2009.
HR Textron has been an industry
leader in actuation systems for commercial and military aircraft, helicopter,
missile, spacecraft, marine craft and ground vehicles since 1933. HR Textron products
are used widely throughout the world in fixed-, rotary-wing, and tilt-rotor aircraft;
precision guided missiles and munitions, unmanned air vehicles, spacecraft, turbine
engines and armored vehicles. 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
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry
company operating in 33 countries with approximately 37,000 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 and Greenlee, among others. More information is available
at www.textron.com. | 
