Textron Acquires Crane Wireless Monitoring Solutions

Adds MicroObserver(R) Unattended Ground Sensor System and VantedgePoint(R) Remote Monitoring System to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Product Family

(Wilmington, Mass., July 7, 2010) -- Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that it has acquired Crane Wireless Monitoring Solutions (WMS), a Crane Co. business. WMS is a leading provider of wireless sensor networks for force protection, border and base security applications, servicing the U.S. Military as well as homeland security and commercial customers. Details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Noted for its MicroObserver(R) unattended ground sensor (UGS) system, VantedgePoint(R) Remote Monitoring System, and its work for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Department of Energy and other customers, WMS will become part of Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems. The Richardson, Texas-based team of approximately 25 people will be an operation within Textron Defense Systems' Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) business line.

"Since 2000, WMS has developed, tested and delivered impressive sensors that communicate reliably over self-forming and self-healing radio networks. Their extensive radio communications, wireless systems and signal processing expertise complement our ISR products, including our Urban and Tactical Unattended Ground Sensors," stated Mark Catizone, senior vice president and general manager of Textron Defense Systems. "We see a growing market for networked sensors and believe the addition of WMS extends our portfolio of offerings."

Source : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) - click here for more information