Wilmington, Mass. – September 13, 2004 - – Textron Systems announced today that its combat-proven Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW), also known as CBU-105, was successfully dropped from 25 thousand feet by a B-1 bomber against a moving tank. The target was hit multiple times, validating a significant increase in combat capability to the warfighter.

“This test continues to prove the versatility and powerful effects that this combat proven weapon is capable of delivering," said Tom Harrington, vice president, Air-Launched Weapons, Textron Systems. “The fact that we can successfully target and strike a moving target without a seeker is crucial; it will also translate well to our maritime interdiction activities.”

The test was conducted at Dugway Proving Grounds, Hill AFB, Utah by the 31st Test Evaluation Squadron. The 31 TES is an Air Combat Command (ACC) unit located at Edwards AFB, California, and is tasked to conduct Operational Test and Evaluation on numerous weapon systems.

“This release was the final test point in a recent weapons upgrade that gave the B-1 the capability to deliver stand-off weapons,” said Major Chris Abramson, a weapons officer with the 31 TES. “It demonstrated the B-1’s continuing ability to bring deadly force to bear on enemy armor and troops.” The B-1 provided the target solution information to the SFW using its Ground Moving Target Tracking (GMTT) radar to make the strike possible. Although only two weapons were released in this test, the B-1 is capable of delivering up to 30 CBU-105s in a single pass, effectively decimating a moving column of armor.

Known as CBU-97 and CBU-105, Textron Systems' Sensor Fuzed Weapon is the first and only combat-proven smart area weapon of its kind in U.S. Air Force inventory designed to accurately detect and defeat multiple threat targets. SFW's demonstrated lethality against armor makes CBU-105 an important force-multiplying capability for the warfighter.

Combat proven on April 2, 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom, SFW took out multiple Iraqi tanks in a single pass to protect the advance of our military forces. SFW’s 40 smart Skeet warheads have both a hard and soft target capability and are equipped with two self-destruct modes and a timed de-activation mode to leave no hazardous unexploded ordnance on the ground leaving a clean battlefield.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems provides innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of the global aerospace and defense industries. The company supports military precision engagement and dominant maneuver with strike weapons, mobility and surveillance systems. The Textron name is well known in the areas of advanced weapons, surveillance systems, aircraft control components, specialty marine craft and armored vehicles. Textron Systems Corporation ("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.