New Orleans, LA - January 14, 2008 - Textron Marine & Land
Systems (TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc.
(NYSE: TXT) company, has signed a contract to sell seven (7) M1117
Armored Security Vehicles to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. The
contract, valued at approximately $10.2 million USD, includes the
anticipated delivery of the vehicles in the first quarter of 2008.
"We are happy to offer the safety, efficiency and reliability of
the ASV to Bulgaria and its effort to support peace operations in
Afghanistan," said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom
Walmsley. "We will be shipping these ASVs as soon as we complete the
United States export requirements that are well underway. Six of the
seven will be going directly to the Bulgarian troops in Afghanistan
through the Ministry of Defense."
The contract with Bulgaria includes two years of technical support
on the vehicles, as well as a framework contract which allows the
Ministry of Defense to purchase additional ASVs in the M1117 base
configuration, or variants with modifications needed to carry out
various missions.
About the ASV
The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled armored vehicle that offers significant
crew protection through the employment of multiple layers of armor,
providing defense against small arms fire, artillery projectile
fragments, and land mines. This advanced armor is exceedingly
lightweight and, along with its dimensions, allows the vehicle to be
able to "roll-on/roll-off" C-130 military transport aircraft. The ASV
possesses superior mobility, agility, handling and ride quality
through the utilization of a four-wheel independent suspension system.
Textron Marine & Land has equipped the M1117 ASV with a specially
designed dual-weapon station that, unlike many other vehicles, enables
the crew to load, reload and clear gun jams under full armor
protection.
With minor modifications and appropriate outfitting, ASV variants
can perform a wide variety of missions including scout, infantry
personnel carrier, reconnaissance, command and recovery. Current
missions of the ASV include operations with the Military Police,
convoy protection, and Field Artillery Combat Observation and Lasing
Teams (COLT). Its record of performance, reliability and survivability
in the field is excellent. Textron Marine & Land has built more than
1,200 ASVs to date, more than 950 of which have been delivered to the
U.S. Army for use in operations around the globe.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation (Textron Systems) 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 Tactical
Operations, Overwatch Geospatial Operations, Textron Defense Systems,
and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Avco Corporation. Avco Corporation is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available
at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in
32 countries with approximately 40,000 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 Company, Jacobsen, Kautex,
Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron
Financial Corporation. More information is available at
www.textron.com.