AAI Conducts Successful Test Flight of Its New Aerosonde[R] Mark 5 Unmanned Aircraft.

HUNT VALLEY, Md. -- AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that it conducted a successful first flight of its new Aerosonde Mark 5 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz. This initial flight met or exceeded all test objectives and validated the aerodynamic capabilities of the new airframe. Future flight testing is planned to validate additional key performance parameters for this aircraft class, including new payload capabilities as they are integrated. This rigorous validation process was initiated in preparation for AAI's possible entry of the Aerosonde Mark 5 UAS in the upcoming U.S. Navy's Small Tactical UAS, or STUAS, program as well as the U.S. Marine Corps' Tier II UAS program.

While the Aerosonde Mark 5 aircraft has been under development for two years, this successful test flight validation program was started once the services confirmed their requirements for these programs. As such, AAI designed the aircraft's final configuration to comply with the objectives of these programs. In accordance with these requirements, the Aerosonde Mark 5 UAS builds on the best practices of AAI's more than 20 years designing, producing, fielding and sustaining UAS.

"We have incorporated the best features of our proven Aerosonde aircraft and Shadow([R]) tactical UAS," explains AAI's Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid. "The Aerosonde Mark 5 delivers impressive endurance with superior intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition capabilities. Our experience and understanding of our military customers' needs uniquely position us to meet these Navy and Marine Corps requirements."

About AAI

AAI Corporation designs, produces, and supports aerospace and defense systems through its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, AAI Services Corporation, Aerosonde Pty Ltd, ESL Defence Limited, and Symtx, Inc. Its high-technology products and services include unmanned aircraft systems, training and simulation systems, automated aerospace test and maintenance equipment, armament systems, aviation ground support equipment, and logistical, engineering, and supply chain services. AAI Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems Corporation has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for over 50 years. Known for its precision smart weapons, intelligent battlefield systems, surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, aircraft control components, piston engines, armored vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems, Textron Systems includes AAI, HR Textron, Lycoming Engines, Overwatch Tactical Operations, Overwatch Geospatial Operations, Textron Defense Systems, and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a $12.6 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: (a) changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; (b) the interruption of production at Textron facilities or at Textron's customers or suppliers; (c) changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism; (d) our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; (e) the U.S. Government's ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government's convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, and, under certain circumstances, to suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; (f) changes in delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; and (g) legislative or regulatory actions impacting defense operations.