New Orleans, LA – March 3, 2009 – Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been awarded a $10.9 million contract modification by the United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) to build an additional 15 Armored Security Vehicles (ASV). With the contract modification, TACOM is exercising an option in the existing contract. Since the inception of the program in 1999 a total of 2,667 ASVs have been contracted, with 1,922 vehicles delivered to date.
“The requirement of the U.S. Army for additional ASVs reinforces our pride in the effectiveness of the vehicle and the people that build it here in Louisiana,” said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom Walmsley. “The on-time delivery and efficient manufacturing record of our employees is eclipsed only by the performance of the ASV in combat protecting our soldiers and carrying out missions whenever called upon.”
The ASV has maintained exceptional operational readiness and combat availability rates over the life of the U.S. Army program as vehicles log more than 30,000 miles per year in combat operations. Textron Marine & Land Systems has achieved more than 40 consecutive months of on-time delivery to the U.S. Army on the ASV program.
The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled armored vehicle that offers significant crew protection through the employment of multiple layers of armor, defending against small arms fire, artillery projectile fragments, Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) and land mines. This advanced armor is exceedingly lightweight and, along with its dimensions, allows the vehicle to be able to "roll-on/roll-off" C-130 military transport aircraft. The ASV possesses superior mobility, agility, handling and ride quality through the utilization of a four-wheel independent suspension system. Textron Marine & Land Systems has equipped the M-1117 ASV with a specially designed dual-weapon station that, unlike many other vehicles, enables the crew to load, reload and clear gun jams under full armor protection.
With minor modifications and appropriate outfitting, ASV variants can perform a wide variety of missions including scout, infantry personnel carrier, reconnaissance, command and control and recovery. Current missions of the ASV include operations with the Military Police, convoy protection, as well as Field Artillery Combat Observation and Lasing Teams (COLT) with the M-1200 ASV variant. Its record of performance, reliability and survivability in the field is impeccable in U.S. Army operations around the globe.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 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 Systems, 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 $14.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 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, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.