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Wilmington, MA–
November 28, 2006.
– Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc.
(NYSE:TXT) company, reported today that their Universal Aerial
Delivery Dispenser (U-ADD) was successfully deployed from
an Army RQ-5 Hunter UAV during a U.S. Air Force inert drop
demonstration conducted at the U.S. Army Electronic Proving
Ground, Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. The GPS-guided U-ADD was released
at approximately 13K feet, flew stably for the entire flight
trajectory and ejected the inert munition payload cleanly
from the tube dispenser at the designated above-the-ground
aim point.
According to Tom McNamara,
Textron Systems’ senior vice president, Advanced Solutions
Center, “We are very pleased at having met our objectives
for this demonstration. The guided dispenser’s performance
illustrates clearly that the multi-mission U-ADD is ideally
suited for use on tactical UAVs.”
Major Thomas Williams, Chief of the Combat
Operations Directorate at USAF UAV Battlelab said, “The
U-ADD offers flexible deployment options and could greatly
expand the missions for U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy UAVs.
The U-ADD has the potential of providing the warfighter with
a precise delivery mechanism for smart area weapons, non-lethal
payloads, as well as other cargo.”
The U-ADD was designed and developed under
the direction of Textron Systems’ Advanced Solutions
Center, and funded through the company’s research and
development efforts. Funding for the flight demonstration
portion was provided by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) UAV Battlelab,
Creech AFB, Nevada, as part of the UAVB’s Guided Dispenser
Tube initiative. Following the demonstration, the U-ADD will
enter a product improvement phase to enhance its mission capabilities
as well as expand the types and number of payloads that it
can carry.
“The U-ADD represents the first GPS-guided
product that is fully integrated by Textron Systems –
right down to the tail actuation system manufactured by our
HR Textron operation located in Santa Clarita, California.
When it comes to precision guided products, the U-ADD proves
that Textron Systems is able to deliver in many dimensions,”
McNamara continued.
The lead service for the October 2006 flight
demonstration was the USAF UAV Battlelab, with participation
from the U.S. Army Unmanned Aerial Systems program office
located in Huntsville, Alabama.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation (“Textron Systems”)
provides innovative technology solutions to meet the needs
of the global aerospace and defense industries. The company
supports military and homeland security missions with strike
weapons, as well as mobility and surveillance systems, and
provides commercial and general aviation with engines and
actuation systems. The Textron Systems name is well known
in the areas of advanced weapons, surveillance systems, aircraft
control components, piston engines, specialty marine craft
and armored vehicles. 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. 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.
Textron Systems Media Contact:
Joanne Walsh
978-657-2100
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