New Orleans, LA - February 14, 2008 - Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been selected for a Phase II contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to continue development of the Sea Base Connector, Transformable Craft (T-Craft).
Work on Phase II of the T-Craft development will be performed by a team of world-class organizations in the advanced marine vehicle industry, lead by TM&LS in New Orleans, Louisiana. Work is expected to start on the project early in 2008.
T-Craft is one of several innovative naval prototypes being developed by ONR to support the broad objectives of the U.S. Navy's Sea Base program. Its mission is to self-deploy from an intermediate support base to a sea base area of operations. Once on site, the T-Craft will take cargo, consisting primarily of wheeled and tracked vehicles, from the sea base to the shore line without the use of port facilities. The transit will be made at high speed, and will end with the delivery of cargo "feet dry" on the beach in a wide range of sea conditions and terrain.
During a Phase I study, the TM&LS team developed a preliminary design of a craft that can operate as a catamaran at low speed, a surface effect ship at high speed, and as a fully amphibious air cushion vehicle for cargo discharge. In addition, the air cushion is used to provide a powerful motion control system to stabilize the T-Craft during cargo transfer operations at the sea base.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation (Textron Systems) 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 Tactical Operations, Overwatch Geospatial Operations, Textron Defense Systems, and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avco Corporation. Avco Corporation is a 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.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: (a) changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; (b) the interruption of production at Textron facilities or at Textron's customers or suppliers; (c) the timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products; (d) the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which Textron products are sold or supplied; (e) changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; (f) the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; (g) performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors and business partners; and (h) bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers that could cause disruptions in Textron's supply chain.