NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., April 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Textron Systems Advanced Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that its second Fleet-class Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) completed a successful in-water demonstration last week in New Orleans following vessel modifications at the Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS) shipyard.
The two Textron Systems operating units recently collaborated on vessel performance enhancements and are preparing to participate in additional capabilities demonstrations for the United States Navy. The team also is pursuing vessel contracts with the U.S. Navy, international navies and other government agencies in the U.S. and overseas.
"The demonstration showed these recent vessel modifications enhance CUSV's already robust capabilities," explains Don Hairston, Textron Systems Advanced Systems senior vice president and general manager. "It's smart business to take full advantage of TM&LS' ship-building knowledge and maritime vessel experience as we move toward production of this important unmanned system."
According to Hairston, if CUSV contracts are awarded to Textron Systems, TM&LS' 300,000-square-foot shipyard in New Orleans will be the site for low-rate initial vessel production. TM&LS would manufacture CUSV hulls, as well as outfit the vessel with engines, drive trains and certain other components.
This project would leverage TM&LS' extensive shipbuilding heritage and capabilities. This is the same shipyard where, in recent decades, Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) amphibious craft were manufactured for the U.S. Navy and Japan Defense Agency, along with Motor Lifeboats currently in use by the U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican Navy and other countries for a variety of coastal missions. Building on its LCAC program, TM&LS and its program partners submitted their entry for the Navy's next generation air cushion vehicle, the Ship-to-Shore Connector. An award decision on that program is expected later this year.
"We have a very strong background in marine architecture and engineering and manufacturing aluminum vessels that deliver value in a variety of military and humanitarian roles," says Tom Walmsley, Textron Marine & Land Systems senior vice president and general manager. "We're excited to add CUSV, an advanced unmanned vessel that delivers key capabilities in critical mission areas, to our marine manufacturing portfolio."
Textron Systems' CUSV will participate in the U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Command's Trident Warrior 2012 experiment, July 9 - 20 in San Diego. During this event, the CUSV team will execute a mine warfare "detect-to-engage" scenario during which multiple CUSVs, controlled from a single control station, will detect and prosecute an exercise mine. Trident Warrior supports the Navy's fleet experimentation program, where participants demonstrate maritime vessels and technologies in an operational environment to improve available fleet capabilities. CUSV took part in Trident Warrior 2011, where it successfully demonstrated sliding autonomy, enabling autonomous and man-in-the-loop vessel operations.
Designed with a reconfigurable payload bay, CUSV users have the freedom to quickly deploy any payloads necessary to satisfy mission requirements including towing, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, communications relay, launch and recovery for unmanned aircraft and underwater systems, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
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 subject to 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 risk that contract awards for the CUSV, the Ship-to-Shore Connector and other new products will not be received as anticipated; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses or delays in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to military operations in foreign countries; changes in worldwide economic or political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates or 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, or, under certain circumstances, to withhold payment or suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; and performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors or business partners.
Media Contact:
Sharon Corona
Textron Systems Corporation
(410) 628-3184
About Textron Systems Advanced Systems
Textron Systems Advanced Systems brings together cutting-edge technologies and far-reaching innovations to satisfy emerging customer demands for reliable, affordable solutions in the areas of security; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and medical research. Its strategic business Overwatch is a leading provider of intelligence software solutions and robust satellite communications systems for U.S. and international defense, intelligence and law enforcement communities. The Advanced Systems business also continues efforts on light arms technologies and unmanned systems such as the Common Unmanned Surface Vessel, or CUSV, conceived by AAI. Another strategic business, Medical Numerics, provides processing and analysis software for medical imaging research. Textron Systems Advanced Systems is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Marine & Land Systems
Textron Marine & Land Systems designs, produces and supports advanced wheeled combat vehicles and cutting-edge maritime craft used by U.S. and international armed forces, as well as civilian entities around the globe. Its family of Armored Security Vehicles offers enhanced survivability and highly mobile combat security vehicles with unmatched capabilities. Textron Marine & Land Systems' innovative turret technology and related subsystems also deliver outstanding performance and reliability. Its strategic business, MillenWorks, operates an Engineering Center of Excellence with a reputation as a highly sought-after solution center, which designs and develops advanced mobility solutions for demanding on- and off-road applications. Textron Marine & Land Systems is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textronmarineandland.com.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., the company is 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 and operational services. Textron Systems includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services, AAI Test & Training, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Systems, Aerosonde, ESL Defence, Lycoming Engines, Medical Numerics, MillenWorks, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. 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.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com
http://www.cisionwire.com/textron-systems-corporation/r/textron-systems-successfully-demonstrates-its-second-common-unmanned-surface-vessel,c9247053
The following pictures are available for download:
| [Image] | CUSV2 at New Orleans/TM&LS demonstration #2 |
| [Image] | CUSV2 at New Orleans/TM&LS demonstration #1 |