Teledyne Technologies Inc. plans to sell its general aviation piston engine business to China’s AVIC International for $186 million.

The Thousand Oaks company on Tuesday said divesting Mobile, Ala.-based Teledyne Continental Motors and Teledyne Mattituck Services will enable it to better focus on its core businesses, which includes electronic components and subsystems for communications, aviation and marine uses.

Beijing-based AVIC International already supplies aviation components to companies such as Boeing, Airbus and Honeywell. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter.

The sale will significantly enhance Continental Motors’ opportunity to enter the global market for the sale and service of general aviation piston engines,” Teledyne Chief Executive Robert Mehrabian said in a statement.

Shares closed up 28 cents, or less than a percent, to $43.78 on the Nasdaq.