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Bell receives contract to modify 27 more aircraft in OH-58D Safety Enhancement Program

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today
that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to modify an
additional 27 OH-58D aircraft under the Kiowa Warrior Safety
Enhancement Program (SEP).

These 27 aircraft will form Lot 12 of the Kiowa Warrior SEP program.
Work on the aircraft will begin in April 2009. Completed aircraft are
scheduled to be delivered back to the Army at a rate of three per month
beginning in September 2009.

Bell is currently modifying aircraft in Lot 11, and is on track to
complete all work on that lot in June, ahead of contract schedule. "So
far, we've been able to deliver every aircraft in Lot 11 two months
ahead of schedule," said Amy Tedford, Director of Military Fielded
Systems at Bell Helicopter. "Our goal is to continue delivering ahead
of schedule as we modify the aircraft in Lot 12," she added.

The Kiowa Warriors are being upgraded with an improved engine, along
with improved computer control systems that include related new wiring
harnesses. The improvements are part of a series of safety and
performance modifications the Army has implemented to keep the OH-58D
armed reconnaissance helicopter safe and mission effective until it is
retired. Once the aircraft in Lot 12 have been completed, Bell will
have modified a total of 253 Kiowa Warriors on its SEP program line.

All work is being done at Bell Helicopter's Plant 1 facility in Fort
Worth, Texas. Work on the Lot 12 aircraft is scheduled to be completed
in mid-2010.

The US Army fleet of Kiowa helicopters has accumulated more than 1.7
million flight hours and 460,000 combat flight hours. Despite high
usage rates, daily combat scenarios and harsh environmental conditions,
the OH-58D continues to achieve readiness rates above 80 percent.

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron
Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military,
manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the
revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class
customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global
workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120
countries.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a $14.2 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, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

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