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Shadow® Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System Program Wins Defense Logistics Best PBL Implementation Award

Dépèche transmise le 31 janvier 2011 par Business Wire

Shadow® Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System Program Wins Defense Logistics Best PBL Implementation Award

HUNT VALLEY, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) program received the Best PBL (Performance Based Logistics) Implementation award at the 7^th Annual Defense Logistics Awards ceremony. This award was established to “honor, recognize and promote the logisticians in the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense Industry that have made a significant contribution to military logistics.”

“AAI’s Shadow TUAS is the most utilized tactical unmanned aircraft system today having accumulated nearly 590,000 flight hours to date”

PBL allows the U.S. military to partner with industry to secure integrated life cycle support for components, sub-systems and systems, increasing asset readiness and minimizing total cost of ownership.

“AAI’s Shadow TUAS is the most utilized tactical unmanned aircraft system today having accumulated nearly 590,000 flight hours to date,” says Senior Vice President and General Manager of AAI Logistics & Technical Services Diane Giuliani. “That record results from quality design and manufacturing, skilled military operators, and robust maintenance and logistics support. Our AAI/Army UAS Project Office team implements and refines best practices and continuous improvement methodologies to achieve an exceptionally high average availability rate of 97 percent. In addition, we’ve helped our customer maintain or decrease associated cost of ownership while the fleet size has grown aggressively.”

The team’s achievements include the rapid fielding of several system reliability enhancements, including a new parachute that has reduced aircraft damage during parachute recoveries by 62 percent, as well as a new oil pump system that eliminated cold-weather oil flow-related incidents.

In addition, strategies like AAI’s successful public/private partnerships with Letterkenny Army Depot and Tobyhanna Army Depot set up an efficient supply chain in which AAI’s field service representatives provide an important first line of defense in the field for Shadow TUAS repairs and maintenance, with depot-level support for additional infrastructure and labor.

About AAI

AAI Corporation and its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries Aerosonde Pty Ltd and ESL Defence Limited design, produce and support industry-leading aerospace and defense products and services, including unmanned aircraft and ground control technologies; high-fidelity training and simulation systems; automated aerospace test and maintenance equipment; armament systems; and logistical, engineering, supply chain and operational support services. AAI Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.

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, 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.

AAI and design is a registered trademark of AAI Corporation.
Shadow is a registered trademark of AAI Corporation.