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Hunt Valley, Maryland — May 11, 2009 — AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) have exceeded 400,000 flight hours. In service with the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Marine Corps, more than 90 percent of Shadow systems’ operational hours have been in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
“Shadow TUAS continue to evolve along with the needs of our warfighters,” explains Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid of AAI. “During more than 400,000 hours of operation, we have partnered with end users to help optimize their tactics and procedures by adding new and important system capabilities.”
Shadow initiatives that got underway in 2008 are making major strides in 2009. A laser designation capability, which was tested successfully in late 2008, has been fielded on a limited number of Shadow aircraft. After these prototypes are proven, production units are expected to be fielded starting later this year. In addition, a new wing design is planned for the Shadow aircraft that increases its wingspan to 20 feet, improving payload capacity and endurance while adding hard points under each wing for external stores. Retrofit kits to equip Shadow aircraft with the new wing are expected to be fielded starting in late 2009.
AAI also is incorporating the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) onto Shadow aircraft to provide greater communications bandwidth and data security. The line-of-site, Ku-band digital data link provides Shadow system users a common interface with other military systems that incorporate TCDL — including the Extended-Range, Multipurpose Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the Hunter UAS, and the Apache helicopter. Initial production systems featuring the TCDL are planned to be fielded in early 2011, followed by retrofit activities for existing systems.
“This milestone, and the sheer magnitude of maturity we’ve experienced with our Shadow TUAS, reflects AAI’s commitment to the end user,” says Reid. “Our field service representatives are deployed shoulder-to-shoulder with warfighters, maintaining, and in some cases operating, these aircraft. The wealth of battlefield feedback we receive is not taken for granted — we use this experience to make Shadow TUAS better systems for our customers.”
About AAI
AAI Corporation designs, produces, and supports aerospace and defense systems through its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, AAI Services Corporation, Aerosonde Pty Ltd, ESL Defence Limited, and Symtx, Inc. Its high-technology products and services include unmanned aircraft systems, training and simulation systems, automated aerospace test and maintenance equipment, armament systems, aviation ground support equipment, and logistical, engineering, and supply chain 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 over 50 years. Known for its precision smart weapons, intelligent battlefield systems, surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, aircraft control components, piston engines, armored vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems, Textron Systems includes AAI, HR Textron, 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. (NYSE: TXT) is a $14.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, 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, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Orbiter is a trademark of Aeronautics Ltd.
Aerosonde is a registered trademark of Aerosonde Pty Ltd.
T-Hawk is a trademark of Honeywell
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