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Textron Aviation airframe Weapon Systems

Textron Aviation is the U.S. general-aviation manufacturer behind Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft. In this catalog the builder facet identifies the Cessna Caravan airframe used for the AC-208 Combat Caravan, separating the aircraft manufacturer from the contractor that added the armed mission system.

1 weapon systems

Textron Aviation was formed in 2014 when Textron combined its legacy Cessna business with the acquired Beechcraft business. The company now markets and supports Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft families from its Wichita, Kansas base.

The catalog uses the "Textron Aviation airframe" label for systems where the Textron/Cessna aircraft is the base platform rather than the complete military conversion. For the AC-208 Combat Caravan, Textron Aviation's role is the Cessna Caravan utility turboprop airframe; mission equipment and weapons integration are handled separately in the weapon record.

general aviation aircraftturboprop utility aircraftspecial-mission aircraftmilitary trainers and defense aircraftaircraft support and aftermarket services

Notable Systems

Cessna Caravan

Single-engine utility turboprop designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation, used as the baseline airframe for AC-208 Combat Caravan conversions.

Sources: Cessna Caravan

AC-208 Combat Caravan airframe

Cataloged armed ISR and light-attack aircraft that combines a Cessna Caravan airframe with a separate mission and weapons conversion.

Sources: Cessna Caravan 40th Anniversary, Textron Aviation 2024 Annual Report

Beechcraft T-6C and AT-6 Wolverine

Textron Aviation Defense markets military trainer and light-attack aircraft, illustrating the company's defense-aircraft portfolio beyond the Caravan airframe.

Sources: Textron Aviation Defense

Builder History

  1. First Caravan delivery

    Textron Aviation's 2025 Caravan anniversary release identifies 1985 as the first delivery year for the Cessna Caravan utility turboprop.

    Sources: Cessna Caravan 40th Anniversary

  2. Textron Aviation segment formed

    Textron completed its Beechcraft acquisition and combined Beechcraft with the legacy Cessna segment to form Textron Aviation.

    Sources: Textron 2014 Form 10-K

  3. Broad aircraft and aftermarket portfolio

    Textron's 2024 annual report describes Textron Aviation as home to Beechcraft and Cessna brands, with aircraft sales covering business jets, turboprops, military trainers, defense aircraft, and piston aircraft.

    Sources: Textron Aviation 2024 Annual Report

  4. Caravan family passes 3,100 deliveries

    Textron Aviation reported more than 3,100 Caravan-family aircraft delivered and more than 25 million fleet flight hours while marking the platform's 40th anniversary.

    Sources: Cessna Caravan 40th Anniversary

Subsidiaries
CessnaBeechcraftHawker support
Website links
Textron AviationTextron Aviation DefenseCessna Caravan

The catalog facet uses "airframe" to distinguish Textron Aviation's Cessna Caravan base aircraft from the separate AC-208 mission-system and weapons conversion. Textron Aviation is the sourced company name; the catalog-facing builder name is retained to match existing manufacturer data.

Builder Sources

  • Textron AviationPublisher: Textron Aviation | Note: Official company site supporting the Textron Aviation, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, special-mission, and defense product context. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Textron Contact UsPublisher: Textron Inc. | Note: Official business directory listing Textron Aviation at One Cessna Blvd., Wichita, Kansas, supporting the headquarters field. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Textron 2014 Form 10-KPublisher: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | Note: Supports Textron Aviation's 2014 formation by combining Beechcraft with Textron's legacy Cessna segment. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Textron Aviation 2024 Annual ReportPublisher: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | Note: Supports Textron Aviation's current Beechcraft and Cessna brand ownership, aircraft and aftermarket product lines, and military trainer and defense aircraft portfolio. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Cessna CaravanPublisher: Textron Aviation | Note: Official Cessna Caravan page supporting the Caravan utility turboprop airframe, performance class, and Textron/Cessna manufacturer context. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Cessna Caravan 40th AnniversaryPublisher: Textron Inc. | Note: Textron Aviation release supporting that the Cessna Caravan is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation, first delivered in 1985, and exceeded 3,100 deliveries. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Textron Aviation DefensePublisher: Textron Aviation Defense | Note: Official defense site supporting the company's military trainer, light-attack, maintenance, logistics, and training support context. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Textron Aviation, N425EX, Cessna 208B Grand CaravanPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing: a Textron Aviation Cessna 208B Grand Caravan image by Anna Zvereva, reviewed as CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-21

Category

Aircraft & UAVs

Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

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