Frost & Sullivan Honors AAI Logistics & Technical Services and AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Customer Service Leadership Award
AAAA Annual Professional Forum and Exposition/Fort Worth, Texas — APRIL 10, 2013 — AAI Logistics & Technical Services and AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, operating units of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that they have been awarded Frost & Sullivan’s 2012 North American Customer Service Leadership Award in the Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles category.
“AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ product offering provides technical and logistics support to its customers through its sister organization, AAI Logistics & Technical Services. Together, the companies offer customers a suite of Shadow®system services that evolve through the product life cycle. Hence the end-user can stay focused on mission success instead of complex logistics,” said Mahendran Arjunraja, senior research analyst, Frost & Sullivan.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the companies’ combined product and service offering for the Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) provides customers, “a holistic approach unlike its competitors, who mainly focus on selling their products.” That offering includes a platform that has exceeded 800,000 total flight hours performing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; communications relay; and laser designation. It also includes field service and operational support, as well as a performance based logistics program that has achieved significant cost savings and asset availability of more than 95 percent for the U.S. Army customer.
“We are currently upgrading a large portion of the U.S. Army’s Shadow fleet to the all-digital RQ-7B V2 configuration, including the Tactical Common Data Link and AAI’s new, fully interoperable Universal Ground Control Station,” says Bill Irby, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ senior vice president and general manager. “We also are looking at new ways to push the technology envelope, giving our customers additional affordable, innovative answers to their program and budget requirements. These include our Shadow Multi-Mission Payloads, modular pods that quickly equip the aircraft for multiple mission profiles right in the field. We also are rapidly maturing our new Shadow M2 platform, a larger airframe that flies at a higher altitude and accommodates an even greater range of missions.”
AAI Logistics & Technical Services continues to deliver a range of services that complement the proven Shadow TUAS.
“We provide the full spectrum of unmanned aircraft systems services,” says Diane Giuliani, senior vice president and general manager of AAI Logistics & Technical Services. “This includes operational support, field service, performance based logistics, instruction and courseware, training devices and device upgrades, and more. This broad range of experience allows the customer to focus on the mission, while we focus on system reliability and availability.”
About AAI Logistics & Technical Services
AAI Logistics & Technical Services delivers comprehensive life cycle support, sustainment and operational services for defense and security equipment, and is a leading provider of unmanned systems services. With experienced logisticians, maintainers and operators that can be deployed rapidly around the globe, the business offers affordable solutions that deliver superior asset availability and reliable performance, including award-winning performance based logistics, contractor logistics support, depot support, supply chain management, training, and repair and overhaul services. AAI Logistics & Technical Services is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.
About AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems has designed, manufactured and fielded combat-proven unmanned aircraft systems for more than 25 years. AAI’s multi-mission capable unmanned aircraft and interoperable command and control technologies provide critical situational awareness and actionable intelligence for users worldwide. Its Australia-based strategic business, Aerosonde Pty Ltd, is a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems. AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Providence, R.I., the company is known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment and operational services. Textron Systems includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services, AAI Test & Training, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Systems, Aerosonde, ESL Defence, Lycoming Engines, Medical Numerics, MillenWorks, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
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