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Cessna skycourier demand drives expansion of Textron Aviation flight test operations. June 2, 2026 Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced the completed expansion of its flight test hangar on the company's East Wichita Campus, increasing capacity to support growing global demand for the Cessna SkyCourier and continued development activity across its turboprop portfolio. The 57,000-square-foot expansion adds six new hangar bays on the north side of the facility, significantly increasing capacity for flight test operations as activity continues to accelerate for the twin-engine, large utility SkyCourier. The expanded footprint will also support ongoing flight test and entry-into-service work for the Beechcraft Denali. Designed for versatility, the Cessna SkyCourier serves commercial passenger, cargo and special missions operators with multiple configurations and mission-ready performance. As the aircraft expands into defense and special missions applications, including its first military order, recent enhancements such as an In-flight Operable Door option further extend its operational flexibility across a broad range of missions.From an operational standpoint, the expanded facility allows flight test teams to move more efficiently between aircraft preparation, data collection and evaluation, an important advantage as the SkyCourier supports an increasing range of missions and test requirements. The expanded facility also reflects Textron Aviation's ongoing commitment to responsible operations, incorporating energy-efficient LED lighting and high-efficiency systems designed to reduce energy consumption while supporting demanding flight test activity. Breaking Military News Discover more Military News Subscription Challenger 3 Tank Naval Warfare Solutions "With more space and flexibility, our teams can run multiple test profiles in parallel and turn aircraft more efficiently," said Brad White, senior vice president, Manufacturing Operations. "That capability is critical as the SkyCourier supports a growing range of real-world missions for operators around the globe." "As demand for the Cessna SkyCourier continues to grow across commercial, cargo and special missions markets, it's critical that our facilities and teams are positioned to support that momentum," said Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. "By investing in additional flight test capacity, we are strengthening our ability to efficiently support development today and as demand continues to expand." The twin-engine, high-wing Cessna SkyCourier turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators around the world. The Cessna SkyCourier is offered in two variants - the freighter and the passenger - along with optional kits that allow the aircraft to be configured from passenger to freighter, or in a Combi configuration that accommodates up to nine passengers while carrying freight. The freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds, while the 19-passenger variant features large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both versions offer single-point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds and feature two crew doors and a large side door used for cargo loading or passenger boarding, depending on the configuration. The SkyCourier is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features the McCauley Propeller C779, a heavy-duty and reliable 110-inch aluminum four-blade propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch, designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while hauling tremendous loads. The SkyCourier is operated with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 ktas and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range. Discover more Drone Defense Systems Arms Industry Reports Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered its collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna, Hawker and Pipistrel brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for its customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, light and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense aircraft, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on its legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with its trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight. Post Views: 32

Textron Systems awarded contract from DIU to provide tsunami USVS to US Navy. May 1, 2026 Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today a contract award from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to produce and deliver multiple TSUNAMI(R) Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs), which will be used to support the U.S. Navy Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercise in Key West, Florida and provide three months of joint operations with SOUTHCOM and the U.S. Navy Fourth Fleet. Under the contract, Textron Systems will provide the long dwell TSUNAMI interceptor USVs and Field Service Representatives (FSRs) to the FLEX exercise, demonstrating cooperative intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance and targeting (ISR-T) with its Aerosonde(R) 4.7 VTOL UAS off a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The exercise will also demonstrate manned-unmanned surface warfare with Invariant Corporation's Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system. Daily defense briefing Discover more Naval vessel models Military news subscription Marine equipment rentals "The TSUNAMI family of vehicles leverage Textron Systems' decades of expertise in autonomous systems innovation, coupled with the speed and scalability of Brunswick Corporation's established and globally sustainable production line of vessels," said Ryan Schaffernocker, Senior Vice President Air, Land and Sea Systems. "This award establishes a partnership foundation for TSUNAMI USV government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) and contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) services, allowing for rapid deployment with a lower cost of ownership for the Navy." The TSUNAMI family of autonomous maritime surface vessels are designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy and its allies for a readily available, versatile portfolio of multi-mission uncrewed assets to team effectively across the fleet. Utilizing Brunswick Corporation's reliable, high-performance vessels, Textron Systems developed the TSUNAMI family of products with its trusted CUSV(R)- Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle - vessel-based autonomy control system, leveraging mature commercial technologies to deliver increased capacity and immediate scale. Textron Systems is the originator of the CUSV, the Mine Countermeasure (MCM) USV for the U.S. Navy Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program of record. Most recently, Textron Systems introduced the Multi Mission USV (MMUSV), the 5th generation of its CUSV craft designed to expand the Navy's capacity for advanced mission capabilities. Textron Systems is a world leader in uncrewed air, surface and land products, services and support founded on the combined expertise in family of brands that includes Textron Systems, Howe & Howe, Lycoming, and ATAC. The company harness the unlimited power of teamwork to solve incredible problems across seven specialized domains: air, land, sea, propulsion, weapon systems, electronic systems and test, training & simulation. From product development and manufacturing to training, operations and support, Military Leak integrate and offer ingenious and advanced solutions to support defense, aerospace, and other customer missions. 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, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. Naval technology news Post Views: 25