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Wilmington, MA.– April 20, 2006 - – Textron Systems announced today that it has been awarded a $200,000.00 contract for the concept development of a ground-based Counter-Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) Missile Detection and Tracking System. The contract represents one of four awards by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Air Armament Center. This new effort represents an early step in countering the growing threat to military and civilian aircraft created by terrorists equipped with readily available, lethal MANPADS weapons.

Textron Systems demonstrated its concept for MANPADS detection and tracking to the USAF during MANPADS Week held at the Tonopah Test Range, in Nevada, USA, in early March 2006. Textron Systems' proposed Directed Energy -based MANPADS defense system combines the high power of a CO2 laser with a Medium Wave Infrared (MWIR) passive sensor-based Missile Detection and Tracking (MDT) system to defeat threat targets.

"We believe that an MWIR-based Missile Detection and Tracking system, when operating at shorter ranges often associated with a MANPADS attack, will offer excellent detection probability with a very low false alarm rate," said Mark Kovacs, manager of sensors and image processing, Textron Systems. "The directed energy-based Counter MANPADS approach encompasses a range of technologies that have been key elements of Textron Systems' R&D effort and fielded programs for more than 30 years," continued Kovacs.

Textron Systems' Counter-MANPADS proposal is based on the company's proven electro-optical surveillance systems used onboard operational USAF reconnaissance aircraft, as well as demonstrated technologies for high power CO2 lasers. Textron Systems has developed sensors, acquisition and tracking systems, laser pointing systems, laser radars, and a spectrum of high-power laser weapons-class devices for ground, sea, and airborne platforms. The company has decades of experience in the design, development, implementation, testing, data processing and analysis of visible and infrared sensors for military applications.

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.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company operating in 33 countries with approximately 37,000 employees in continuing operations. 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, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.