War Profiteer of the Month: Alliant Techsystems

ATK — Alliant Techsystems is a $3.1 billion advanced weapon and space systems company with approximately 14,000 employees and operations in 23 states. The company is the world's leading supplier of solid propulsion systems and the nation's largest manufacturer of ammunition.

Alliant Techsystems, Inc. supplies aerospace and defense products to the U.S. government, U.S. allies, and government contractors.

The company also supplies ammunition to federal and local law enforcement agencies, and commercial markets.

It operates through three groups: Mission Systems, Launch Systems, and Ammunition Systems.

The Mission Systems group develops and manufactures gun-launched guided and conventional ammunition, tactical missile systems, tactical rocket motors and warheads, composite structures for aircraft and weapons systems, and other weapon systems and components. It also supplies propulsion solutions for missile defense, space, strategic, tactical, and commercial applications, as well as ordnance and control systems; structures for space launch vehicles, rocket motor casings, military, and commercial aircraft; telescope, satellite and spacecraft structures, optical benches, and antenna reflectors; and propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles and weapon systems. Further, this group develops technologies that address national security and homeland defense requirements in areas, such as directed energy, electro-optical and infrared sensors, aircraft sensor integration, antennas and radomes, signal processing, and specialized composites.

The Launch Systems group provides motors for human access to space, land- and sea-based strategic missiles, commercial and government space launch vehicles, and missile defense interceptors, as well as various missile defense propulsion and launch vehicle programs.

The Ammunition Systems group supplies small-caliber military ammunition, medium-caliber ammunition, ammunition and rocket propellants, energetic materials, commercial and military smokeless powder, law enforcement and sporting ammunition, and ammunition-related products.

The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Edina, Minnesota.

History

In 1990, ATK became an independent company when Honeywell spun off its defense businesses, which had supplied defense products to the U.S. and its allies for 50 years. Since then, the company has grown to become a major aerospace and defense contractor through a combination of internal growth and a series of key strategic acquisitions, including Hercules Aerospace in 1995 and Thiokol Propulsion and the ammunition businesses of Blount International in 2001. A series of other acquisitions and key contract wins have continued to increase the company's presence in the aerospace, defense, and commercial ammunition markets.

Corporate Facts

• Headquarters: Edina, Minnesota


• Telephone: 952-351-3000. Fax: 952-351-3009


• Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Murphy Strategy To build on our core businesses of conventional munitions and rocket motors and grow as a leading provider of advanced weapon and space systems.


• President and Chief Executive Officer: Dan Murphy
• Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer: Nick Vlahakis


• Employees Approximately 15,000


• Internet address: www.atk.com


• E-mail address: atk.corporate@atk.com


• Stock ticker symbol: ATK


• Number of shareholders New York Stock Exchange - Approximately 9,400

Locations More than 50 facilities in 23 states. Representatives in more than 50 countries.