Wilmington, MA - September 11, 2007 - Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced that it has been awarded a $1.45 million contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the preliminary design of a Unit Cell Module for a 150 kilowatt Laser Weapon System (LWS). The LWS must meet DARPA's aggressive weight, volume, beam quality, and runtime requirements for the High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) program. It is anticipated that DARPA will follow this preliminary design contract with a contract to complete the design, build and demonstrate the performance of the Unit Cell Laser Module.
Textron Defense Systems' design will be based upon its proprietary ThinZag® Ceramic solid-state laser technology as well as an earlier conceptual design. In 2005 Textron Defense Systems was awarded a DARPA contract to perform a system study of a LWS integrated into various military airborne and ground-based operating platforms. Subsequently, using company resources, Textron Defense Systems developed a conceptual design for a LWS on an airborne platform that met DARPA's aggressive requirements. As a result of this study, Textron Defense Systems has been awarded the current contract for the Unit Cell Laser Module.
“Being included in this DARPA hard initiative allows us to demonstrate compact, scaleable, laser weapon system architectures based on our ThinZag® technology and accelerate the deployment of Directed Energy Weapons to the warfighter.” says Textron Defense Systems' Dr. John Boness, vice president, Applied Technology, Advanced Solutions Center.
Textron Defense Systems has a 40-year legacy of pioneering High Energy Lasers (HELs) for the Department of Defense. This award recognizes the company's continued success and commitment to being a leader in developing HELs for military applications.
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 systems, 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 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.