Textron Businesses to Showcase Military, Commercial Products and Services at 2015 Dubai Airshow

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (November 6, 2015) – Bell Helicopter, Textron AirLand, Textron Aviation Inc. and Textron Systems, all businesses of Textron Inc.  (NYSE: TXT), have announced their plans for the fourteenth Dubai Airshow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 8 -12.

Subject matter experts from each business will be available at chalet #A43-45 to discuss a broad range of aerospace and defense capabilities.

“As one of the largest airshows in the world, the Dubai Airshow is a great venue for aviation and defense solutions and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Scott Donnelly, Textron’s Chairman and CEO. “Textron is bringing a broad range of products and technology to this event – including some of our most successful and well-known systems. Whether they are interested in precision weapons, unmanned aircraft, tactical turboprop and jet aircraft, or advanced rotorcraft – our chalet will be sure to offer customers and attendees an experience unlike any other.”

Bell Helicopter

For nearly 50 years, Bell Helicopter has been delivering innovative, state-of-art helicopters to customers in the Middle East. This year, Bell Helicopter will showcase on static display the Bell 429 with VVIP Mecaer Interior, showcasing the epitome of luxury,  and the Bell 407 GXP, a highly versatile, state-of-the-art helicopter over 1200 of which have been delivered world-wide. Inside the pavilion, visitors will have the opportunity to engage in the Bell 525 simulation cabin. The Bell 525 is the world’s first fly-by-wire commercial helicopter that delivers a generational shift in pilot situational awareness, safety and reliability. The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X mockup will be displayed alongside the 525 simulation cabin.

The Bell Boeing V-22 model will also be exhibited at the Bell Helicopter exhibit inside the Exhibition Hall. Bell Helicopter leadership will be on hand to discuss its military offerings, including the AH-1Z attack and UH-1Y utility helicopters in addition to the V-22 tiltrotor. The V-22 is the most in-demand aircraft in the United States Marine Corps with nearly 300,000 flight hours in humanitarian aid campaigns, emergency evacuations and long-range logistical support. The multi-role capabilities of the company’s marinized AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters are ideally suited to militaries aiming to bolster combat power across the broadest set of missions, with an affordable cost of ownership. The UH-1Y and AH-1Z offer the most effective and efficient means of accomplishing an array of missions, anywhere in the world. The AH-1Z is the world’s most advanced attack helicopter, compatible with the widest array of ordnance of any helicopter in the world.

Textron AirLand

Designed and built with commercial practices, the Scorpion jet is truly unique in the ISR and Strike market.  The model will be exhibited in the Textron Chalet. Scorpion is a highly affordable military jet with a target sales price of approximately $20M and an hourly operating cost that has proven lower than $3K. It is also very versatile in terms of mission flexibility:  a 73 cubic foot / 2 cubic meter centerline payload bay and open electronic architecture allows for multiple “plug and play” sensor types to be employed, and quickly reconfigured without impacting operational tempo. Using commercially designed twin engines, Scorpion combines high dash speeds, extended endurance, and loiter time at cruise speeds.  Within an operation radius of 150 NM, the aircraft can spend over 5 hours on station.

Textron Aviation

Making its regional debut at this year’s Dubai Airshow is Textron Aviation’s most recently certified business jet -the Cessna Citation Latitude. With a range of 2,850 nautical miles, the Citation Latitude affords the most open, spacious, bright and refined cabin environment in the midsize category. With a flat floor and six feet of cabin height, innovation abounds with unique features designed throughout the aircraft.

Alongside the Latitude, Textron Aviation and its Beechcraft Defense Company will highlight their special missions and defense capabilities at the show, displaying special missions-configured Beechcraft King Air 350ER and Cessna Grand Caravan EX, as well as a Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine light attack aircraft. 

The King Air 350ER twin turboprop is an extended-range (ER) airplane, which includes additional fuel capacity and increased capability landing gear allowing for a 2,500 nautical mile range and take-off weight of 16,500 lbs. The demonstrator aircraft has a unique interior configuration that highlights the versatility of the King Air family of aircraft, with a forward club seating arrangement with four VIP chairs and two writing/work tables. In the aft cabin is a fully functioning medical station complete with medical oxygen, vacuum and pressure, a medical cabinet and a side-facing, three-place couch for doctors/medical attendants.

The Grand Caravan EX demonstrator on display features a variety of special mission applications, such as a surveillance console and a medical stretcher, as well as an array of cabin and seating configurations, including newly-designed, light-weight production seats in a half club configuration and a stowable utility seat. The Grand Caravan EX is particularly well suited for a wide array of operations due to its spacious cabin, high useful load of more than 3,500 lbs., large cargo door and the ability to operate from short, unimproved surfaces.

Designed and built with commercial practices, the Scorpion jet is truly unique in the ISR and Strike market.  It is a highly affordable military jet with a target production cost of approximately $20M and an hourly operating cost that has proven lower than $3K.  It is also very versatile in terms of mission flexibility:  a 73 cubic foot / 2 cubic meter centerline payload bay and open electronic architecture allows for multiple “plug and play” sensor types to be employed, and quickly reconfigured without impacting operational tempo.  Using commercially designed twin engines, Scorpion combines high dash speeds, extended endurance, and loiter time at cruise speeds.  Within an operation radius of 150 NM, the aircraft can spend over 5 hours on station.

The Beechcraft Wolverine on display is a multi-role, multi-mission aircraft system designed to meet the spectrum of needs for the light attack mission. Leveraging a range of highly-specialized, but off-the-shelf capabilities, the Wolverine is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as Pratt and Whitney PT6A-68D engine, CMC Esterline’s mission modified Cockpit 4000, Lockheed Martin’s A-10C-based mission system and L-3 WESCAM’s MX-15Di sensor suite.

Textron Systems

Textron Systems will exhibit its proven unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and smart weapon systems designed to serve the needs of militaries, security forces and other customers around the globe.

In the area of UAS, it will feature its Shadow M2, the next-generation variant of the proven Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS). Building upon a family of UAS with nearly one million flight hours, the Shadow M2 adds new features for even greater mission capability and performance. The aircraft accommodates higher-altitude flight and offers flexible payload configurations, allowing it to serve in similar mission capacities to much larger, more expensive systems. Textron Systems will also feature the expeditionary Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS), which offers proven multi-mission performance in both military and commercial land-and-sea based applications. The Aerosonde SUAS, which has amassed more than 100,000 flight hours, incorporates Lycoming’s EL-005 engine – the only system in its class with a propulsion system completely supported by a manufacturer with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Production Certificate. The Aerosonde is also equipped for real-time, full-motion video and communications relay within a single flight, and offers dedicated space and power to integrate additional capabilities based on customer requirements.

Textron Systems will also highlight its advanced G-CLAW and Fury™ precision guided weapon systems, which are based off of Textron Systems’ long lineage of weapons and platform development expertise with the U.S. government. Building on Textron Systems Weapon & Sensor Systems’ proven Clean Area Weapon (CLAW) blast-fragmented unitary area munition, the G-CLAW precision guided weapon system adds a global positioning system (GPS). The lightweight G-CLAW affords the user flexible delivery options from a variety of aircraft systems and multi-mission employment options for land and sea targets. The Fury precision guided weapon system delivers a precision strike capability against both soft targets and static or moving vehicles. The small, lightweight glide weapon is designed for carriage on platforms ranging from SUAS to light attack aircraft. Fury utilized Semi-Active Laser (SAL) and GPS guidance, and is proven in testing to be accurate within one meter of a designated target.

Press Contacts

Bell Helicopter

Textron Systems

Textron AirLand

Textron Aviation

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

About Textron AirLand

Textron AirLand has developed a highly affordable and exportable twin-engine ISR/Strike/Trainer jet for the tactical military aviation market. A versatile jet platform based on commercial best practices and proven high technologies, Scorpion is designed as a multi-mission aircraft for diverse battlefield, security and training missions. More information about our initial aircraft is available at www.ScorpionJet.com.

About Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the leading Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit: textronaviation.com.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems’ businesses develop and integrate products, services and support for aerospace and defense customers, as well as civil and commercial customers including those in law enforcement, security, border patrol and critical infrastructure protection around the globe.  Harnessing agility and a broad base of expertise, Textron Systems’ innovative businesses design, manufacture, field and support comprehensive solutions that expand customer capabilities and deliver value. Textron Systems consists of its Advanced Information Solutions, Electronic Systems, Geospatial Solutions, Lycoming Engines, Marine & Land Systems, Support Solutions, TRU Simulation + Training, Unmanned Systems and Weapon & Sensor Systems businesses. 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, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. 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; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers;  changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; risks related to our international business, including relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.