USMC Awards Contract for Upgraded HMMWV Test Vehicles

(New Orleans & Mount Airy, N.C., February 23, 2010) -- Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and Granite Tactical Vehicles Inc., announced today the receipt of a contract to deliver three upgraded High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) to the United State Marine Corps Warfighting Lab for testing.

The three upgraded HMMWVs in M1114, M1151-A1/REVB and M1165 configurations are scheduled to be delivered in March 2010 for mobility, thermal and durability performance testing. Independent and USMC blast and ballistic testing on the vehicle has been completed. The vehicle will be on display in outdoor space #3332 at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter show in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from February 24-26. Textron Marine & Land Systems also will be located at booth #1324.

"Working with Granite Tactical Vehicles, we have modified the up-armored HMMWV platform to increase the vehicle's survivability, while enhancing its mobility and payload capabilities," said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom Walmsley.

"We have been working diligently since 2004 on a solution to better protect our soldiers against the evolving threats they face in combat situations around the world," said Granite Tactical Vehicles President Chris Berman. "We are confident in our solution's performance and survivability, and look forward to the outcome of the USMC testing.

Source : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)