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Wilmington,
MA May26, 2009 - Textron Defense Systems,
an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc.
(NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that its Sensor
Fuzed Weapon (SFW) smart munition system has completed
three successful flight tests at Eglin Air Force Base
in Florida. The tests utilized SFW production units
assembled at the new McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
(MCAAP) load, assembly and pack line in Oklahoma. As
a result, the new line was fully qualified.
The Textron Defense Systems' SFW is
unique among munitions systems because of its redundant
technologies for clean battlefield operation. In fact,
it is the only air-delivered weapon that meets the strict
unexploded ordnance criteria for cluster munitions set
forth by the U.S. Secretary of Defense in June 2008.
Relocation of the SFW assembly line
from the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant to MCAAP started
in 2005 in accordance with the Base Realignment and
Closure Act. The relocation team, chaired by Textron
Defense Systems, implemented building upgrades, including
environmental controls and special non-conductive floors,
then designed and implemented a final assembly line
that incorporates Lean continuous improvement techniques
for a condensed footprint and continued high quality
output.
"We are committed to delivering munitions
solutions that are both effective in their missions
and free of dangerous unexploded ordnance," says Senior
Vice President and General Manager Mark Catizone. "For
years, Textron Defense Systems has designed its smart
munitions with robust, technologically advanced clean
battlefield technologies to ensure that we are keeping
non-combatants as safe as our warfighters."
SFW contains the Textron Defense Systems
BLU-108 submunition and smart Skeet™ warheads that are
equipped with dual-mode passive infrared and active
laser sensors. If a Skeet™ warhead does not detect a
valid target over its trajectory, three safety modes
will activate. In the first mode, the active laser measures
the altitude, allowing the Skeet™ to self destruct at
50 feet. The second mode causes the Skeet™ to self-destruct
eight seconds after launch. SFW also is equipped with
a time-out device that consumes all electrical firing
energy in order to render the warhead inactive minutes
after hitting the ground, a third measure to protect
against hazardous unexploded ordnance.
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 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 services,
Textron Systems includes AAI Corporation, 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. 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.
Media Contact:
Sharon Corona
410-628-3184
scorona@systems.textron.com
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