New Orleans, LA - July 17, 2008 - Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been retained to manufacture six 47-foot Motor Life Boats for the Mexican Navy, a sale valued at approximately $24 million USD.
TM&LS will begin construction of the first of these Caterpillar-powered search and rescue boats immediately, with a projected delivery in 19 months. The remaining five Motor Life Boats are planned to be delivered one every other month following the first.
"The Mexican Navy is moving to create an agency much like the United States Coast Guard, and acquiring our proven, effective, safe, and efficient search and rescue Motor Life Boat will bring their capabilities to the highest possible level," TM&LS General Manager Tom Walmsley said. "This boat is perfectly matched to search and rescue duty in all types of weather conditions due to its ability to right itself if overturned in rough seas. We're proud of the service this boat has given the United States Coast Guard over the last 13 years."
The Mexican Ministry of the Navy believes the acquisition of these Motor Life Boats is a major step to meeting its material and equipment needs to maximize system-wide naval search and rescue capabilities in response to calls for help in national waters and along coastlines.
In addition to manufacturing the six Motor Life Boats, TM&LS will provide crew training, which will be done at the TM&LS shipyard in New Orleans.
About Motor Life Boat (MLB)
Textron Marine & Land's 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) is a rugged, highly survivable, all-aluminum rescue boat that significantly enhances the United States Coast Guard's ability to perform search and rescue operations in heavy weather conditions. The MLB design combines many technological innovations, making it faster than its predecessors. Its lightweight, rugged marine-grade aluminum hull can withstand impacts from 20-foot breaking waves at three times the force of gravity. The MLB design has an inherent self-righting capability. When pitch-poled or rolled into swells, the MLB will self-right in less than 10 seconds -- with all machinery remaining fully operational. TM&LS has manufactured 117 MLB craft for the United States Coast Guard.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation 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 Geospatial Operations, Overwatch Tactical Operations, Textron Defense Systems, and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) 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, defense and intelligence, 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.