AAI’s Shadow(R) Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System Named to C4ISR Journal’s "Big 25" Technologies

Hunt Valley, MD . - AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) has been named one of the “Big 25” technologies of 2009 by C4ISR Journal, a defense trade publication dedicated to the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) market.

According to the publication’s Web site, winners in the “platforms” category include “structures that carry ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] sensors or communications technology” and “must be making a significant difference in a battle zone, in deterring enemies or in gathering intelligence.”

AAI’s Shadow unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are in service with the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, Army Special Forces and Marine Corps. They have accumulated more than 435,000 operational flight hours, the majority of which have taken place in Iraq and Afghanistan supporting America’s warfighters.

“I couldn’t agree more with C4ISR Journal’s decision to name the Shadow TUAS as one of this year’s ‘Big 25’ technologies,” says Project Manager Unmanned Aircraft Systems Col. Greg Gonzalez, located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. “The Shadow system has been a true vanguard for unmanned aircraft system operations in the U.S. Army, and has continued to be the Army’s UAS workhorse since being fielded at the turn of this century. Every day, the Shadow helps save soldiers’ lives by locating improvised explosive devices, assisting in the apprehension of enemy combatants, and providing other vital ISR and target acquisition data.”

“Innovation in the unmanned systems industry centers on delivering critically important situational awareness intelligence for America’s men and women in combat,” says AAI Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid. “Because of that, we never lose sight of why these systems are so important, and why their capabilities must constantly broaden and increase in proportion to the warfighter’s need for them. We’ll continue to enhance the Shadow TUAS to meet those needs.”