Alliant Techsystems
Encyclopedia
Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol
, , is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States
with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated . The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, and announced that it will relocate its headquarters to Arlington, Virginia
in October 2011.
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 was 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 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
.
Alliant Techsystems, Edina
, and Humbert CTTS SAS were awarded an approximately contract to provide Speer 9mm GoldDot ammunition to the French Gendarmerie, French Customs, French Corrections and all 250,000 police officers in France
. ATK has greatly expanded its workforce during the United States ammunition shortage
. "ATK is experiencing unprecedented demand for ammunition," said Amanda Covington, a spokesperson for ATK in 2009. "Our facilities are working 24-7 to meet the demand of all of our customers."
propulsion, the ordnance business of Boeing
and CCI/Speer, an ammunition manufacturer.
In 2003 ATK purchased the General Applied Science Laboratory
(GASL).
In November 2010, ATK was selected by NASA for consideration for potential contract awards for heavy lift launch vehicle
system concepts, and propulsion technologies.
Ticker symbol
A stock symbol or ticker symbol is a short abbreviation used to uniquely identify publicly traded shares of a particular stock on a particular stock market. A stock symbol may consist of letters, numbers or a combination of both. "Ticker symbol" refers to the symbols that were printed on the ticker...
, , is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated . The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, and announced that it will relocate its headquarters to Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
in October 2011.
Background
ATK was formed in 1990 as a subsidiary of Honeywell Inc. as part of Honeywell's plan to exit the defense industry. Under the plan, Honeywell's defense businesses were transferred to ATK which was then spun off to Honeywell stockholders as a separate company.In 1995 ATK entered the aerospace market with the acquisition of Hercules Inc.
Hercules Inc.
Hercules, Inc., was a chemical and munitions manufacturing company based in Wilmington, Delaware, which was formed in 1912 as the Hercules Powder Company. Hercules was spun-off from the DuPont Corporation as a result of U.S. federal government actions in the field of antitrusts...
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 was the sole manufacturer of the reusable Solid Rocket Motor
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster
The Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters were the pair of large solid rockets used by the United States' NASA Space Shuttle during the first two minutes of powered flight. Together they provided about 83% of liftoff thrust for the Space Shuttle. They were located on either side of the rusty or...
used to launch the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. 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 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
Trident missile
The Trident missile is a submarine-launched ballistic missile equipped with multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicles . The Fleet Ballistic Missile is armed with nuclear warheads and is launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines . Trident missiles are carried by fourteen...
.
Alliant Techsystems, Edina
Edina, Minnesota
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, and Humbert CTTS SAS were awarded an approximately contract to provide Speer 9mm GoldDot ammunition to the French Gendarmerie, French Customs, French Corrections and all 250,000 police officers in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. ATK has greatly expanded its workforce during the United States ammunition shortage
2008-2009 United States ammunition shortage
The 2008-2010 United States ammunition shortage refers to a shortage of civilian small arms ammunition in the United States that started in late 2008 and continued through most or all of 2010...
. "ATK is experiencing unprecedented demand for ammunition," said Amanda Covington, a spokesperson for ATK in 2009. "Our facilities are working 24-7 to meet the demand of all of our customers."
Acquisitions and mergers
Since 2000 ATK has grown as a result of both internal expansion and a series of acquisitions, including ThiokolThiokol
Thiokol is a U.S. corporation concerned initially with rubber and related chemicals, and later with rocket and missile propulsion systems...
propulsion, the ordnance business of Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and CCI/Speer, an ammunition manufacturer.
In 2003 ATK purchased the General Applied Science Laboratory
General Applied Science Laboratory
The General Applied Science Laboratory is an American aerospace company, known as a pioneer of hypersonic propulsion.-Description:The General Applied Science Laboratory was founded in 1956 by Antonio Ferri and became a developer and testing house for advanced propulsion systems.Another early...
(GASL).
ATK Aerospace Systems
- Headquartered in Magna, UtahMagna, UtahMagna is a census-designated place and township in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The population was 26,505 at the 2010 census, a moderate increase over the 2000 figure of 22,770...
In November 2010, ATK was selected by NASA for consideration for potential contract awards for heavy lift launch vehicle
Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle
A Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle, or HLLV, is a launch vehicle capable of lifting more mass into Low Earth Orbit than Medium Lift or Mid-Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles.There is no universally accepted capability requirements for heavy-lift launch vehicles....
system concepts, and propulsion technologies.
ATK Armament Systems
Currently the largest ammunition manufacturing entity in the world with operating facilities throughout the US.- Headquartered in Clearfield, UtahClearfield, UtahClearfield is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. The population was 25,974 at the 2000 census. The city grew drastically during the 1940s, with the formation of Hill Air Force Base, and in the 1950s with the nation-wide increase in suburb and "bedroom" community populations and has been...
See also
- List of modern armament manufacturers
- Ammonium perchlorateAmmonium perchlorateAmmonium perchlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO4. It is the salt of perchloric acid and ammonia. It is a powerful oxidizer, which is why its main use is in solid propellants...
- Top 100 US Federal ContractorsTop 100 US Federal ContractorsThe Top 100 Contractors Report is a list developed annually by the U.S. General Services Administration as part of its tracking of U.S. federal government procurement....