Jessica Reed is a writer and editor with AIN. She joined the team in the fall of 2023 after two years covering the aviation industry at Avionics International. She earned her bachelor&#039;s degree in English (Writing &amp; Rhetoric) from Pepperdine University. Her hometown is St. Louis, Missouri, and she since has resided in Santa Barbara, California, and Brooklyn, New York, among others. She is currently based in Vernon, New Jersey.

Writer & Editor

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Jessica Reed

Textron Aviation has secured a significant contract with the U.S. Army Contracting Command, stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, for the provision of various turboprop aircraft models under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The contract, an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) agreement, could potentially be valued at $100 million over five years. This arrangement will supply Textron Aviation aircraft, including the Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Grand Caravan EX, and Beechcraft King Air models.
The first order under this contract includes three Beechcraft King Air 360 Extended Range (KA360ER) aircraft. The Peruvian Naval Aviation Force and the Ecuadorian Naval Aviation are the designated recipients, with Peru acquiring two units and Ecuador one. These aircraft will primarily serve maritime patrol duties, safeguarding the exclusive economic zones of these nations.
Bob Gibbs, Textron Aviation's v-p of special mission sales, emphasized the contract's alignment with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's directive to streamline and expedite the Department of Defense's FMS case execution processes. “This IDIQ…will provide highly capable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft that can be equipped with COTS releasable technology, and it will accelerate acquisition and contracting timelines from many months or years to weeks,” Gibbs said.
Textron Aviation designs and manufactures aircraft for a wide array of special missions. These include air ambulance services, ISR, utility transport, aerial survey, flight inspection, and training.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Textron Aviation Lands U.S. Army Turboprop Contract

Textron will provide various turboprop aircraft models to aid Foreign Military Sales

Textron Aviation has secured a pivotal contract with the U.S. Army Contracting Command to enhance allied maritime defenses with a fleet of specialized turboprop aircraft.

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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AmyWilder

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

In this article

Cessna SkyCourier 408

Cessna 208 Caravan and 208B Grand Caravan

King Air 200 Series

King Air 300 Series

Textron Aviation

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