(By Balaseshan) Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) said its test equipment making unit has won a contract to provide satellite factory test equipment for Orbital Sciences Corp. (NYSE:ORB).
AAI Test & Training, an operating unit of Textron Systems, has received a contract from Orbital Sciences to provide several factory line test systems for its multiple satellite production lines.
Delivery of the first system is expected to take place in late 2012. Orbital's systems will be based on AAI Test & Training's standard, configurable WaveCore Satellite Panel/Payload Test Set (PTS).
Incorporating commercial, off-the-shelf components, the WaveCore PTS will be customized for the specific needs of Orbital's satellite production lines. The testers will be used to test sections of multiple satellites as they are built, as well as the fully assembled satellites in both ambient and thermal testing conditions.
"Our WaveCore PTS is a highly capable, maintainable and flexible turnkey system unto itself, and can be customized easily and affordably for customer-specific requirements as we'll do for Orbital's satellite production lines," said Robert Peters, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AAI Test & Training.
AAI Test & Training designs and manufactures high-technology test equipment for the lab, training range, depot, flight line, factory and more. In addition, AAI provides high-fidelity training devices and solutions, as well as training needs and systems requirements analysis.
TXT is trading up 4.52% at $27.29 on Tuesday, while ORB trades up 2.68% at $13.77.