Canadian Firms Supplying Components to Mobile Strike Force Vehicles
Ottawa, Ontario - March 13, 2012 - Textron Systems Canada Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced new work with seven innovative Canadian companies in support of Textron Marine & Land Systems' armoured vehicle manufacturing program. Textron has entered into contracts with these Canadian suppliers to provide components for the Afghanistan National Army Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV) program. The total value of these contracts is more than $10 million to date with companies located in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
"We are fortunate to be working with such qualified partners and suppliers in Canada," said Neil Rutter, general manager of Textron Systems Canada. "These contracts show the capability of the Canadian defence and security industry to meet the exacting standards expected by Textron."
Rutter notes that these contracts will help maintain Canadian jobs, and position these supplier companies for future opportunities on Textron programs. The Canadian firms engaged with manufacturing and supplying the following components are:
- Michelin North America (Waterville, N.S.) - Specialized Tires
- EODC (Ottawa, ON) - Armoured Vehicle Belly Plates
- General Dynamics Canada (Ottawa, ON) - Display Units
- General Kinetics (Brampton, ON) - Shock Absorbers
- Mobile Climate Control (Vaughn, ON) - HVAC components
- Ontario Drive & Gear (New Hamburg, ON) - Transfer Cases
- Evraz Steel (Regina, SK) - Armour Steel
Canadian-produced vehicle components for the Afghanistan MSFV are being integrated into more than 300 vehicles being built at Textron Marine & Land Systems' manufacturing facilities in Louisiana. Vehicle assembly is slated to continue into 2013.
"We are hopeful that these Canadian companies will play an important role by continuing to supply Textron on its proposed Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) for the Canadian Forces and other armoured vehicle programs. Textron's Canadian Forces TAPV proposal meets or exceeds the Industrial and Regional Benefit requirements in large measure due to relationships with such skilled Canadian suppliers." said Rutter.
Textron's TAPV draws on the company's more than 45 years of experience in the design and production of armoured vehicles. A technology readiness level 8 vehicle, the Textron TAPV is built to provide the Canadian Forces with the optimal balance of survivability, mobility and versatility, while delivering outstanding performance in the world's most challenging environments. Extensively tested to confirm ballistic, blast, mobility and reliability levels, the Textron TAPV is engineered to meet and exceed Canadian Forces requirements.
Textron employs more than 1,800 Canadians at its Textron Systems Canada, Bell Helicopter and Kautex facilities in Canada. Textron companies have procured more than $3.5 billion of materials manufactured by Canadian supplier companies in the past three years.
For additional information, visit www.textrontapv.ca and www.textronmarineandland.com.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., the company is known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment and operational services. Textron Systems includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services, AAI Test & Training, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Systems, Aerosonde, ESL Defence, Lycoming Engines, Medical Numerics, MillenWorks, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. To serve Canadian customer requirements, the company established Ottawa-based Textron Systems Canada. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements 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 statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risk that Textron's TAPV proposal will not win the contract award; performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors or business partners; changes in worldwide economic or political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products.
Contacts
Sharon Corona
Textron Systems Corporation
(410) 628-3184
scorona@systems.textron.com
Darren Cunningham
Thornley Fallis Communications
613-231-3355 ext. 220
cunningham@thornleyfallis.ca