Bell Launches TEAM EAGLE EYE Core Team To Promote Tiltrotor UAV

June 14, 2004
Fort Worth, TX - June 14, 2004 - Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC), AAI Corporation and Textron Systems Corporation have reached an agreement in principle to form the Core Team for TEAM EAGLE EYE to develop, produce and market the Eagle Eye Vertical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VUAV) System.

The Eagle Eye System consists of one or more Eagle Eye tiltrotor unmanned air vehicles, ground control equipment, payload (sensors, weapons and other items carried internally or externally by the air vehicle), communications, and integrated logistics support.

The Eagle Eye System offers a potential revolution in vertical unmanned warfighting in the tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV) environment. The unique combination of speed, range and versatility of Bell's tiltrotor technology, the precision control and downlink capability of the AAI One System ground control equipment, Textron Systems' innovative tactical UAV munitions solutions, and LMC's advanced technology make the Eagle Eye System the clear solution for all vertical tactical UAV requirements.

Already selected for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VUAV) portion of the U.S. Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater System contract, the Eagle Eye passed a critical milestone recently within the Deepwater System program, with the highly successful completion of its Preliminary Design Review (PDR), a required deliverable to proceed to the next stage of the contract.

The PDR demonstrated that Eagle Eye will successfully fulfill the U. S. Coast Guard missions. In meeting these mission requirements, the system is well within margins for risk, performance, supportability and cost allocations.

The preliminary design of the Eagle Eye is based on the successful demonstrator that flew over 90 hours, and achieved 200 knots in level cruise while carrying 210 pounds of payload at 7/8 the scale of the planned production version.

Prospective markets include the emerging US Marine Corps' VUAV requirement.

Core Team members for TEAM EAGLE EYE:

Bell Helicopter. A Textron company, Bell will bring a unique, innovative air vehicle and 6000 hours of tiltrotor expertise to the team. Responsible for overall system performance, programmatics, air vehicle design, development, production, flight-testing and delivery.

Lockheed Martin Corporation. Will provide advanced technology expertise, prototyping, network centric knowledge and low cost composite capability to the realm of vertical lift.

AAI Corporation. Will provide its One System joint, common ground equipment and any integration expertise required. AAI will bring time-tested, operational, combat-proven, real-time UAV expertise to the team.

Textron Systems Corporation. Will provide a variety of specialized UAV weapons payloads specifically designed or adapted for a tiltrotor UAV, to include ordnance integration support. More information is available at www.systems.textron.com.

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in 40 countries. 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, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.

Connect with Textron IR

David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288
Kyle Williams, Manager, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288

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