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Textron Defense Systems Receives $257M Order to Supply Sensor Fuzed Weapons to Indian Air Force

Dépèche transmise le 9 février 2011 par Business Wire

Textron Defense Systems Receives $257M Order to Supply Sensor Fuzed Weapons to Indian Air Force

BANGALORE, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that it has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to produce 512 CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) units for the Government of India under a Foreign Military Sale agreement. The total value of the contract is $257 million with $126 million funded immediately.

“We believe that SFW is truly the best area attack weapon in the world. Through a process of rigorous research, testing and analysis, we have created a weapon that is reliable, safe and meets current clean battlefield standards”

"We believe that SFW is truly the best area attack weapon in the world. Through a process of rigorous research, testing and analysis, we have created a weapon that is reliable, safe and meets current clean battlefield standards," said Ellen Lord, senior vice president and general manager of Textron Defense Systems.

The Textron Defense Systems' combat-proven SFW is unique among munitions systems because of its redundant technologies for clean battlefield operation. SFW has been engineered to eliminate the risk of unacceptable harm to civilians or non-combatants. As a result, it is the only air-delivered weapon that meets the strict unexploded ordnance (UXO) criteria for cluster munitions — requiring less than one percent UXO in intended operational environments — set forth by the U.S. Secretary of Defense in June 2008.

The first and only combat-proven clean battlefield weapon of its kind in the U.S. Air Force inventory, the SFW contains Textron Defense Systems' BLU-108 submunition and smart Skeet^TM warheads equipped with dual-mode passive infrared and active laser sensors. If a Skeet warhead does not detect a valid target over its lofted trajectory, one of its three safety modes will activate. The first two modes enable the Skeet to self-destruct after eight seconds from launch or within a 50-foot (15 meters) altitude above the ground. Combined, these two features deliver greater than 99 percent reliability. The Skeet's third mode automatically renders the Skeet inoperable via self-deactivation within minutes of hitting the ground.

About Textron Defense Systems

Textron Defense Systems employs advanced technology and industry expertise to develop and manufacture innovative product solutions including air-and ground-based smart weapons; directed energy weapons; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, systems; and protection systems. Its distinctive solutions for U.S. and allied militaries, aerospace and homeland security communities provide precision effects, intelligence-gathering capabilities and force protection. More information is available at www.textrondefense.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.

Skeet is a trademark of Textron Systems Corporation.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates;
• Our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government;
• The U.S. Government’s ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government’s convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, and, under certain circumstances, to suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards;
• Changes in international funding priorities, foreign military budget constraints and determinations, and government policies on the export and import of military and commercial products;
• Legislative or regulatory actions impacting defense operations.