ATK Awarded $4 Million Integration and Demonstration Contract to Develop an
Alternative Warhead for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)
Army Contract Follows Successful Tests of Two ATK Alternative Warhead Designs
for GMLRS
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK)
was awarded a $4 million Integration and Demonstration (I&D) contract by the
U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command. ATK was one of three companies awarded
an I&D contract to develop an alternative warhead for the Guided Multiple
Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). The I&D phase will span 17 months and conclude
with a live-fire test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, where the Army
will down-select a design to proceed into the engineering and manufacturing
design and demonstration (EMDD) phase.
During the I&D phase ATK will perform engineering trade studies, component and
system optimization, simulation and analysis, preliminary design, and warhead
fabrication and testing. The ultimate goal is to develop a drop-in
replacement for the currently fielded Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional
Munition (DPICM) warhead for the GMLRS.
In 2008, ATK self-funded the development and testing of two GMLRS warhead
configurations to demonstrate different technical designs. Both
configurations were successfully tested and the best design was selected for
the I&D phase. ATK's innovative design uses commercial grade components to
meet mission requirements, lower technical risk, match current warhead flight
characteristics and not modify the existing delivery system.
"ATK's GMLRS alternative warhead design is a prime example of our ability to
develop innovative and advanced technical approaches to deliver safer, more
effective and affordable products for our warfighters," said Bart Olson, vice
president and general manager of ATK Tactical Propulsion and Controls
division. "ATK's self-funded demonstration program allowed us to enter this
competition with a design that meets mission requirements, reduces the
likelihood of battlefield unexploded ordnance, and meets our customer's cost
goals."
Design, development, analysis, and simulation work will be performed at ATK's
Plymouth, Minnesota facility. Warhead production will occur at our ATK's
Alleghany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, West Virginia.
ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees
in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues of approximately
$4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at
www.atk.com.
Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes
forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can
give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking
information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those
factors are: the challenges of designing and developing warheads; changes in
governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the
company's competitive environment; the terms and timing of awards and
contracts; and economic conditions. ATK undertakes no obligation to update
any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could
impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Media Contact: Investor Contact:
Rod Gibbons Jeff Huebschen
Phone: 410-864-4932 Phone: 952-351-2929
E-mail: rod.gibbons@atk.com E-mail: jeff.huebschen@atk.com
SOURCE ATK
Media, Rod Gibbons, +1-410-864-4932, rod.gibbons@atk.com, or Investors, Jeff
Huebschen, +1-952-351-2929, jeff.huebschen@atk.com, both of ATK
