Textron Systems and Thales Successfully Test Fury® Weapon Guidance Package
FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW, ENGLAND – JULY 11, 2016 – Textron Systems Weapon and Sensor Systems, a business of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), and Thales announced today the successful testing of the Fury® lightweight precision guided glide weapon from the Shadow® Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) against static vehicle targets.
The Fury was tested from a Textron Systems’ Shadow TUAS at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona on April 29. During the testing, the Fury was released from 8,000 feet altitude, conducted a Global Positioning System (GPS) guided fly-out maneuver and transitioned to the Semi-Active Laser (SAL) guided terminal engagement, directly striking a static vehicle target.
“We are pleased with the test results and development progress of the Fury weapon system – the latest test proved out the GPS and SAL guidance capability from 8,000 feet and was a significant incremental step in the weapon’s development,” says Weapon and Sensor Systems Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sinkiewicz. “To date, the tests have demonstrated that the lightweight weapon features a mature and proven warhead and accurate guidance system paired with a fully integrated aircraft solution. With these results, we believe the Fury system could be a great complement to the Shadow TUAS, other UAS or light attack aircraft.”
“We are delighted with the recent success of Fury,” says Thales General Manager Philip McBride. “Building on the technology used in the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), this latest addition to the LMM family has proven the precision of the munition. Fury offers proportionate effects in time-critical, network-centric Close Air Support (CAS) and armed Information, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions against both fixed and moving targets”.
Textron Systems and Thales began development of the Fury weapon system in 2014. The team utilizes their expertise in weapon systems and sub component and system-level integration in major United States and United Kingdom weapon system programs in development of the system. The team plans to co-market and produce the system for U.S. domestic and international markets.
The Fury weapon uses a common interface for rapid integration on multiple manned and unmanned aircraft systems. The weapon’s tri-mode fuzing – impact, height of burst and delay – further enables a single Fury to address a broad target set, ranging from static and moving light armored vehicles to small boats and personnel. The precision weapon Fury is guided by a GPS-aided inertial navigation unit system with a Semi-Active Laser Seeker terminal guidance capability. This enables the weapon to engage both stationary and moving targets within 1 meter accuracy, or fly to specific target coordinates.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems’ businesses develop and integrate products, services and support for aerospace and defense customers, as well as civil and commercial customers including those in law enforcement, security, border patrol and critical infrastructure protection around the globe. Harnessing agility and a broad base of expertise, Textron Systems’ innovative businesses design, manufacture, field and support comprehensive solutions that expand customer capabilities and deliver value. Textron Systems consists of its Advanced Information Solutions, Electronic Systems, Geospatial Solutions, Lycoming Engines, Marine and Land Systems, Support Solutions, TRU Simulation + Training, Unmanned Systems and Weapon and Sensor Systems businesses. 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, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Bad Boy Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information visit: www.textron.com.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €14 billion in 2015. With over 22,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.
Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
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Media Contacts:
Public Relations Team
Textron Systems
(978) 657-2020
PublicRelations@textronsystems.com
Justine Degez
Thales
+33 (0)6 89 34 53 09
justine.degez@thalesgroup.com