Textron Systems

Marine & Land Systems’ roots date back to 1935 with the creation of Bell Aircraft Corporation. In 1960 Textron Inc. acquired Bell’s defense business, creating the Bell Aerosystems Company. A decade later the company became an operating division of Textron Inc. and the name was changed to Bell Aerospace Textron. At about this time Bell Aerospace started operations in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Early projects included the Navy's Amphibious Assault Landing Craft and the Surface Effect Ship (SES) series of ships. In 1977, Bell and Halter Marine Services formed a joint venture, known as Bell Halter Inc., to develop and build a new class of SES. In 1986, the New Orleans operations split from Bell Aerospace and a separate division, Textron Marine Systems, was created.

Cadillac Gage, founded in 1941, grew to become the largest U.S. manufacturer of wheeled combat vehicles. Having earned a reputation for high quality, reliable and combat-proven vehicles, such as the V-100 armored personnel carrier and LAV-300 light armored vehicle, the business became Cadillac Gage Textron in 1986.

In 1994, Textron Marine Systems merged with the Combat Vehicle Operations of Cadillac Gage to become what is now known as Textron Marine & Land Systems. After a corporate transformation at Textron Inc., Textron Marine & Land Systems became an operating unit of Textron Systems in 2001.

Today, Textron Systems Marine & Land Systems designs and manufactures specialty vehicles and equipment for military and commercial use, including our trusted COMMANDO™ family of four-wheeled armored vehicles for the United States and international militaries, Cadillac Gage turret systems, and advanced marine craft ranging from the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) and its successor – the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) – for the U.S. Navy, to the Motor Lifeboat (MLB) counted on by U.S. Coast Guard and other international customers. Textron Marine & Land Systems is a Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI®) Level 3 compliant company.

Here at the Michoud Assembly Facility, Marine & Land Systems currently employees 35 personnel across two shifts. This facility is a base of operations for all warehousing activity for Marine & Land Systems, including their fleet of trucks. At this facility they receive, store and pick material for all manufacturing programs. They also receive, store and ship spare parts to support thousands of vehicles in countries around the world.