The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has integrated an intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance pod to a Textron-built light attack ISR aircraft to demonstrate how fast the multi-intelligence pod can be integrated on a new platform. The Air Force said Tuesday Leidos helped install the AgilePod platform on the Scorpion aircraft as part of the fitting test […] More

A Spirit AeroSystems-built fuselage was used on the first flight of the Bell Helicopter-designed V-280 Valor aircraft at the latter’s Amarillo, Texas-based facility. Spirit AeroSystems said Wednesday it developed the aluminum sub-structured fuel fuselage in under 22 months at its Kansas-based facility in support of the Bell V-280 Valor program. The Bell V-280 Valor program […] More

The U.S. Navy plans to award Textron Systems a sole-source contract to supply an optical simulator technology designed to visually replicate actual threats. The service branch said in a FedBizOpps notice posted Friday the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Corona Division requires a Man-portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer and believes Textron Systems has the potential to meet MAST specifications. NSWCCO wants […] More

Textron‘s AAI Corp.subsidiary has received a $41.9 million contract modification for the delivery of 36 Block III kits for the U.S. Army‘s Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft systems. The service branch obligated the full modification amount at the time of award from its fiscal 2017 other procurement funds, the Defense Department said Monday. AAI will perform work in Hunt Valley, Maryland, through Dec. […] More

Textron and a team of Sierra Nevada Corp. and Embraer have brought their respective light-attack aircraft to the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to prepare for the U.S. Air Force‘s OA-X experiment that will start on July 31, Defense News reported Wednesday. OA-X will help the Air Force decide whether to pursue a program of […] More

Textron‘s systems business has tested a lightweight precision guided glide munition against moving targets during a flight test at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. Textron said Monday that its weapon and sensor systems team recorded 23.8 flight hours for the Fury weapon between captive carriage, survey flights and weapon releases from unmanned aircraft systems. The company performed a […] More

Textron‘s unmanned systems division has been awarded a $14.8 million contract to build an additional two fourth-generation Common Unmanned Surface Vehicles for the U.S. Navy‘s Unmanned Influence Sweep System program. The company said Monday the service branch plans to use the CUSVs for a Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Surface Vehicle mission that will involve mine-hunting, neutralization and sweeping operations. CUSV is designed […] More

A Textron subsidiary will continue to provide maintenance and training support services for Afghanistan’s Cessna C-208B Caravan aircraft under a potential five-year, $50 million contract from the U.S. Air Force. Textron Systems Support Solutions will train Afghan air force personnel on how to maintain the branch’s C-208Bs designed for military transport and training activities, the company said Tuesday. The follow-on Afghan Trainer Contractor […] More

A joint venture of Textron and AirLand Enterprises has selected BAE Systems to provide head-up displays for an aircraft platform designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions. BAE said Monday the initial order of LiteHUD displays will support upcoming flight tests of the Textron AirLand-built Scorpion jet. LiteHUD is designed to facilitate situational awareness for pilots in day and […] More

Textron Systems has kicked off on-water tests for the company-built Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, as part of the U.S. Navy‘s Unmanned Influence Sweep System program. Textron said Wednesday the on-water maneuverability test is part of the program’s system-level integration and test phase that will also involve demonstrations of the CUSV’s integrated generators, engines and […] More

Textron‘s systems advanced information solutions unit has updated a technology platform that works to integrate and manage data from multiple remote platforms such as sensors and information feeds. The company said Tuesday the iCommand 2.5 is designed to help users obtain a single pane view of previously disparate data and attach critical information to raw data necessary for mission planning activities. […] More

Lockheed Martin has selected Textron’s electronic systems business unit to provide threat simulation systems for electronic warfare tests on the F-35 fighter jet. Lockheed will use Textron’s Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulator system to develop and confirm aircraft software requirements for the F-35, Textron said Wednesday Textron will manufacture the simulation system at the F-35 […] More