Textron to Build Search and Rescue Boats for Mexican Navy

Released on Thursday, July 17, 2008

New Orleans, LA - July 17, 2008 - Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been retained to manufacture six 47-foot Motor Life Boats for the Mexican Navy, a sale valued at approximately $24 million USD.

TM&LS will begin construction of the first of these Caterpillar-powered search and rescue boats immediately, with a projected delivery in 19 months. The remaining five Motor Life Boats are planned to be delivered one every other month following the first.

"The Mexican Navy is moving to create an agency much like the United States Coast Guard, and acquiring our proven, effective, safe, and efficient search and rescue Motor Life Boat will bring their capabilities to the highest possible level," TM&LS General Manager Tom Walmsley said. "This boat is perfectly matched to search and rescue duty in all types of weather conditions due to its ability to right itself if overturned in rough seas. We're proud of the service this boat has given the United States Coast Guard over the last 13 years."

The Mexican Ministry of the Navy believes the acquisition of these Motor Life Boats is a major step to meeting its material and equipment needs to maximize system-wide naval search and rescue capabilities in response to calls for help in national waters and along coastlines.

In addition to manufacturing the six Motor Life Boats, TM&LS will provide crew training, which will be done at the TM&LS shipyard in New Orleans.