CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference of our firm under the captions "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Textron Inc. for the
registration of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Senior Debt Securities and
Subordinated Debt Securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of
our report dated January 29, 2004, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Textron Inc. incorporated by reference in its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2004, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 3, 2004