Textron Wins $30M U.S. Navy Contract

Textron Marine & Land, an operating unit of Textron Systems, was awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy valued at over $30 million. This latest award comes as a modification to an existing United States Navy contract for work associated with the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). This award is to perform upgrades on four additional fleet craft, bringing the total number of craft to undergo SLEP by Textron to fourteen. B. Clay Moise, vice president of marine and combat vehicles, stated that, "LCAC has proven, time and again, that it is an essential component of U.S. Navy/Marine Corps Amphibious Forces. The enhancements that we are currently performing will offer our warfighters modernized equipment that is fully integrated with the fleet, at a fraction of new build cost. We are pleased by the confidence that the Navy has demonstrated in our abilities, as evidenced by this new contract award, and we look forward to a continued Navy/Industry team effort." The SLEP production program has been underway since 1996. Work is ongoing, with incremental deliveries of completed craft. The first completed craft was delivered in December 2000. The last deliveries under this contract will now take place in the last quarter of 2006. The SLEP contract entails modifications for extending the service life of the LCAC from 20 to 30 years. Changes include incorporation of main engine upgrades, installation of a new skirt system, and some hull and fuel system modifications that were developed to improve trim and damage stability characteristics of the LCAC. In addition, communication/navigation systems will be upgraded for consistency with other U.S. Navy equipment and to reduce the costs of maintenance, repair and obsolescence of parts. The majority of the work will be completed at Textron Marine & Land in New Orleans, Louisiana. LCAC is an amphibious vehicle that traverses snow, marsh, ice, tundra, sand and water. The first LCACs were manufactured in 1984 with a service life design of 20 years. All craft have performed at or above expectations and have become an integral part of the Navy's amphibious capabilities. The Service Life Extension Program will extend the useful life of the LCAC fleet, reducing operating costs and improving performance. About Textron Systems www.systems.textron.com Textron Systems Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., provides innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of the global aerospace and defense industries. The company supports military precision engagement and dominant maneuver with strike weapons, mobility and surveillance systems. The Textron name is well known in the areas of advanced weapons, surveillance systems, aircraft control components, specialty marine craft and armored vehicles.