Netherlands AF Selects AAI's ABE for 2 Helicopter Platforms

(Hunt Valley, Md., January 20, 2010) -- AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the Royal Netherlands Air Force has selected its Advanced Boresight Equipment (ABE(R)) for aircraft harmonization on the AH-64D Apache Longbow(R) and CH-47F Chinook(R) helicopters.

ABE is a gyro-stabilized, electro-optical angular measurement system designed to align aircraft subsystems. Under these new awards valued at more than $1.8 million, AAI will deliver an additional ABE AH-64D Apache Depot Boresight System to align various sensor, weapon and sighting systems, as well as an additional ABE AH-64D Apache Maintenance Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AMASE) Boresight Kit for AMASE alignment. AAI's ABE boresight solution has supported the AH-64D Apache for the Royal Netherlands Air Force since 2004.


In addition, AAI's ABE system has been selected as the harmonization solution for the Royal Netherlands Air Force's CH-47F Chinook aircraft survivability equipment. Under these awards, AAI will design, develop and deliver adapters, platform-specific firmware called a Personality Module, training and manuals.

"AAI is committed to creating reliable, cost-effective test solutions that provide confidence to warfighters. ABE is the boresighting solution of choice for dozens of platforms in several countries," says Vice President of Test & Training Systems Robert Peters. "Not only is it a proven, accurate and repeatable resource, it minimizes harmonization time and required manpower. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will now use our common ABE Model 310A alignment system on both of these helicopter platforms."

Source : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)