Inert Drop Test a Success
Wilmington, MA– November 28, 2006 - Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, reported today that their Universal Aerial Delivery Dispenser (U-ADD) was successfully deployed from an Army RQ-5 Hunter UAV during a U.S. Air Force inert drop demonstration conducted at the U.S. Army Electronic Proving Ground, Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. The GPS-guided U-ADD was released at approximately 13K feet, flew stably for the entire flight trajectory and ejected the inert munition payload cleanly from the tube dispenser at the designated above-the-ground aim point.
According to Tom McNamara, Textron Systems' senior vice president, Advanced Solutions Center, "We are very pleased at having met our objectives for this demonstration. The guided dispenser's performance illustrates clearly that the multi-mission U-ADD is ideally suited for use on tactical UAVs."
Major Thomas Williams, Chief of the Combat Operations Directorate at USAF UAV Battlelab said, "The U-ADD offers flexible deployment options and could greatly expand the missions for U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy UAVs. The U-ADD has the potential of providing the warfighter with a precise delivery mechanism for smart area weapons, non-lethal payloads, as well as other cargo."
The U-ADD was designed and developed under the direction of Textron Systems' Advanced Solutions Center, and funded through the company's research and development efforts. Funding for the flight demonstration portion was provided by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) UAV Battlelab, Creech AFB, Nevada, as part of the UAVB's Guided Dispenser Tube initiative. Following the demonstration, the U-ADD will enter a product improvement phase to enhance its mission capabilities as well as expand the types and number of payloads that it can carry.
"The U-ADD represents the first GPS-guided product that is fully integrated by Textron Systems – right down to the tail actuation system manufactured by our HR Textron operation located in Santa Clarita, California. When it comes to precision guided products, the U-ADD proves that Textron Systems is able to deliver in many dimensions," McNamara continued.
The lead service for the October 2006 flight demonstration was the USAF UAV Battlelab, with participation from the U.S. Army Unmanned Aerial Systems program office located in Huntsville, Alabama.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation ("Textron Systems") provides innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of the global aerospace and defense industries. The company supports military and homeland security missions with mobility and surveillance systems, as well as strike weapons, and provides commercial and general aviation with engines and actuation systems. The Textron Systems name is well known in the areas of advanced weapons, surveillance 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.systems.textron.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.