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HUNT VALLEY, Maryland, August 1, 2007 — Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS), designed and produced by AAI Corporation, surpassed 200,000 total flight hours in July 2007 — doubling the 100,000 flight hour milestone set in June 2006 in less than 13 months.
AAI is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation (NYSE: UIC).
This hours-of-operation milestone was reached in early July, during a sortie operated by a U.S. Army unit supporting ground operations in Iraq.
More than 88 percent of the flight hours of Shadow 200 systems, which the U.S. Army designates as RQ-7B systems, have been in support of U.S. and allied operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Army selected AAI as its TUAS prime contractor in December 1999. To date, 74 complete systems have been ordered, including 296 aircraft and 148 ground control stations. Each system includes four aircraft, two ground control stations, and other components.
“The role of Shadow systems continues to grow as essential surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering assets supporting U.S. Army and National Guard units in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Steven E. Reid, AAI’s vice president of unmanned aircraft systems.
In addition, the U.S. Marine Corps recently began transitioning to Shadow systems in support of its combat units.
Since being deployed by the U.S. Army to Iraq at the outset of military operations in early 2003 and later to Afghanistan, Shadow systems have flown more than 37,000 sorties and more than 178,000 flight hours in combat operations. Total flight operation hours include training flights and other deployments.
In addition to the production and upgrade of Shadow systems, AAI provides performance-based logistics support and sustainment for fielded and deployed U.S. Army TUAS units.
AAI also manufactures a number of other operationally unique unmanned aircraft systems, and the company is recognized for its design and development of advanced ground control stations and interoperable network technologies.
A leading example is the One System® ground control station, designed and produced by AAI, which is compatible and interoperable with multiple unmanned aircraft systems, including Shadow, Pioneer®, Hunter, Fire Scout, the Army’s new Extended Range/Multi-Purpose system, and AAI’s Aerosonde.
AAI has also developed and fielded the One System™ Remote Video Terminal, a small, mobile, intelligence-gathering system capable of directly receiving and integrating live video and telemetry data from an array of manned and unmanned aircraft systems.
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 (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 an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 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, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions that indicate future events and trends are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, projections of revenues, earnings, segment performance, cash flows, and contract awards. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause the company’s actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. The company makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events, or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement. For additional information about the company and its various risk factors, please see the company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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