South Korea to Incorporate Sensor Fuzed Weapon with FA-50 Aircraft

Textron Defense Systems, a division of Textron Systems Company, recently announced that the Republic of South Korea Air Force has selected its Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) for consolidation onto the Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50 light combat aircraft. The Eglin Air Force Base Air Armament Center and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of South Korea, Textron Defense Systems anticipates beginning providing neutral integration rounds in 2010.

Mark Catizone, senior vice president and general manager of Textron Defense Systems said SFW's exactness and dependability are valuable assets that can help ensure the security of the Korean Peninsula and greater Pacific Region. Mark also said that the SFW smart area weapon integration on FA-50 aircraft is an important step toward system purchases.

Textron Defense Systems' SFW correctly detects and defeats a wide range of moving and stationary land and maritime target threats; from heavy armored battle tanks and soft-skinned vehicles to maritime threats, over a wide area with minimal collateral damage and no hazardous unexploded ordnance. The U.S. Government verified SFW to achieve greater than 99 percent reliability during the flight test program, which includes thousands of tests in various conditions.

SFW contains Textron Defense Systems' BLU-108 submunition and smart Skeet warheads furnished with dual-mode passive infrared and active laser sensors. If a Skeet warhead does not detect a valid target over its stored trajectory, one of its three safety modes will activate. The first two modes enable the Skeet to self destruct after eight seconds from launch or within a 50-foot (approximately 15-meter) altitude above the ground. The Skeet's third feature is a self-neutralizing time-out device which will give the warhead inert within minutes of hitting the ground.

Textron Defense Systems employs advanced technology and industry expertise to develop and manufacture smart weapons; airborne & ground-based sensors and surveillance systems, protection systems for the defense, aerospace and homeland security communities. For more information, see the website, www.textrondefense.com.

Textron Systems Corporation provides innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities. The company is known for 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 services.

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