Alliant Techsystems Power Sources Center Awarded $7.1 Million Contract to Produce Micro-Miniature Lithium Reserve Batteries
Mar 15, 1999
Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) said its Horsham, Pa.-based Power Sources Center (PSC) has been awarded a $7.1 million contract from KDI Precision Products Inc. to manufacture the world's smallest lithium reserve battery. Deliveries of the micro-miniature batteries will run through November 2000.
The batteries will power a self-destruct fuze that automatically destroys artillery-launched munitions that fail to explode on their own. They will be installed on all new Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) payloads, as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery projectiles, which together comprise the majority of artillery ammunition used by the U.S. and its allies.
The batteries will be the first to be produced on a new fully automated production line dedicated to high-volume manufacturing of micro-miniature lithium batteries. The line was installed under an $8.3 million contract from KDI Precision Products Inc. awarded in 1996.
Dr. Pat Narendra, managing director, Power Sources Center, said the contract is the culmination of a process that took 30 months to design, develop, and test the innovative micro-miniature lithium battery and install the automated production line.
Lithium reserve batteries are unique in their ability to last for over 20 years prior to activation and to operate under high-acceleration conditions such as gun launches.
Power Sources Center manufactures a family of lithium reserve batteries spanning a full spectrum of sizes and power and voltage levels. It has delivered more than 27 million lithium reserve and primary batteries to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied governments for use in munitions and fuzes. Power Sources Center also develops and manufactures lithium ion polymer batteries for military, space, and commercial applications.
Alliant Techsystems is a $1.1 billion aerospace and defense company with approximately 6,300 employees. Headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., the company's business groups are Conventional Munitions, Space and Strategic Systems, and Defense Systems. Company news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/
SOURCE: Alliant Techsystems
Contact: Media, Rod Bitz, 612-931-5413, e-mail rod_bitz@atk.com, or
Investors, Richard N. Jowett, 612-931-6080, e-mail richard_jowett@atk.com,
both of Alliant
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