Alliant Techsystems

Alliant Techsystems Inc

Company type	Public (NYSE: ATK)
Industry	Aerospace and Defense
Founded	1990, spun off from Honeywell
Headquarters	Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Key people	Dan Murphy, CEO
Products	SLAM
Revenue	US $4.17 Bil. (2008), 17% from 2007
Number of employees	17,000
Divisions	ATK Armament Systems ATK Mission Systems ATK Space Systems
Subsidiaries	Federal Cartridge, Precision Fuze Company
Website	www.atk.com

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (NYSE: ATK) is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in America with approximately 17,000 employees and operations in 21 states. The company headquarters is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.

Background

Alliant Techsystems Inc., more commonly known by its New York Stock Exchange symbol ATK, was incorporated in Delaware in 1990 when Honeywell Inc. spun off its defense businesses to its stockholders. The spin-off became effective in September 1990, when Honeywell transferred to ATK substantially all of the assets and liabilities of those businesses. In 1995 ATK entered the aerospace market with the acquisition of Hercules Inc. Aerospace division. Since then ATK has grown to become a leading supplier of aerospace and defense products to the U.S. government and its allies, and to prime contractors. ATK is also a major supplier of ammunition and related accessories to law enforcement agencies and commercial customers.

ATK is the sole manufacturer of the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor used to launch the NASA Space Shuttle. In addition, ATK manufactures the booster separation systems that release the motors away from the Shuttle orbiter and the main liquid fuel tank. Nearly every NASA planetary probe has used some form of propulsion from the one of the company's divisions, and ATK also participated in the X-43A project. The company also produces the propulsion system used in the Trident D5 nuclear missile.

The company produces a number of controversial military products, including cluster bombs and depleted uranium rounds, which have both been mired in controversy. As a result, the company has been a target of peace movement protests, with weekly vigils held at Alliant Techsystems headquarters as well as occasional organized acts of civil disobedience.

Unlike some defense contractors who have been very aggressive with protesters, ATK has generally taken a low-key approach, although some arrests for trespassing have taken place.

Acquisitions and Mergers

Since 2000 ATK has grown significantly as a result of both internal expansion and a series of acquisitions, including:

• Thiokol Propulsion in April 2001.
  
• The Sporting Equipment Group of Blount International, Inc. in December 2001.
  
• The ordnance business of The Boeing Company in May 2002.
  
• The assets of Science and Applied Technology, Inc. in October 2002.
  
• Composite Optics, Inc. in January 2003.
  
• Micro Craft and GASL in November 2003.
  
• Mission Research Corporation in March 2004.
  
• The PSI Group in September 2004.
  
• Swales Aerospace in June 2007.

Divisons

ATK Armament Systems

Currently the largest ammunition manufacturing entity in the world with operating facilities throughout the US.

• Mesa, Arizona
• Oroville, California
• Lewiston, Idaho
• Richmond, Indiana
• Anoka, Minnesota
• Independence, Missouri
• Clearfield, Utah
• Radford, Virginia
• Onalaska, Wisconsin

Corporate governance

Current members of the board of directors of Alliant Techsystems are: Daniel Murphy, Frances Cook, Martin C. Faga, Ronald Fogleman, Cynthia L. Lesher, Douglas L. Maine, Roman Martinez, Mark H. Ronald, Michael T. Smith, and William Van Dyke.

See also

• List of modern armament manufacturers
• Ammonium perchlorate

External links

• Alliant Techsystems Inc.