Bell Helicopter and Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) companies, announced today their joint participation in the tenth bi-annual LAAD Defence and Security International Exhibition, held April 14 to April 17 at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Subject matter experts from both Bell Helicopter and Textron Aviation will be available at Booth #J.20 to discuss a broad range of aerospace, special mission and defense capabilities.

LAAD Defence and Security International Exhibition brings together Brazilian and international companies specialized in supplying equipment, services and technology to the Armed Forces, Police and Special Forces, Security Services, consultants and government agencies.

Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter will have four models on display, including the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, the Bell 407GT, and the multi-role Bell AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters that are ideally suited to militaries aiming to bolster combat power across the broadest set of missions with increased speed, range, firepower and payload. The AH-1Z and UH-1Y were designed to operate in the most challenging environments while maintaining an affordable cost of ownership. The AH-1Z is the world’s most advanced attack helicopter, compatible with the widest array of ordnance of any helicopter in the world.

The Bell 407GT is Bell Helicopter’s armed version of the best-selling Bell 407GX, qualified for a range of weapons from light munitions to advanced laser-guided munitions. The state-of-the-art tactical light commercial helicopter brings together the Garmin G1000HTM flight deck with precision weapons capability. Standard specifications include an infrared camera system, weapons management system, universal weapons pylon, tactical radio suite, target sight system, sliding doors for rapid egress and ingress on both sides and high-visibility windows and door for the cockpit.

“In the past few years, we have seen a lot of success and interest in our product line throughout Latin America and see additional opportunities for further growth,” said Jay Ortiz, vice president of Latin American sales for Bell Helicopter. “We are very excited to showcase our commercial and military products at LAAD and give our customers a close look at the multi-mission capabilities and state-of-the art glass cockpits throughout the Bell Helicopter product line.”

Bell Helicopter entered the Latin American market more than 60 years ago and since then, the region has grown to represent the company’s second largest installed fleet with more than 1,680 aircraft.

Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation will highlight its special mission capabilities at LAAD.

“Latin America continues to be one of the largest markets for our products outside of the U.S.,” said Dan Keady, vice president, Special Missions. “Our broad and versatile product range of Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft allows us to capitalize on the burgeoning special missions market throughout Brazil and Latin America.”

Beechcraft products, particularly the King Air turboprops, have been utilized throughout Brazil and Latin America in a number of services including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), air ambulance and utility transport. Cessna products, such as the multi-purposed Caravan single-engine utility turboprop and the Stationair 206, lend themselves to special mission roles in the region and have been used by local law enforcement agencies for surveillance operations and cargo platforms. Cessna’s Citation jets are also well suited to provide high priority transport, flight inspection and training missions throughout Latin America.

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 tiltrotor 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 Aviation Inc.

Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit txtav.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, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.