ATK and Rheinmetall DeTec Will Team to Develop Next-Generation Large-Caliber Ammunition
Agreement Positions Companies to Play Key Role in U.S. Army's Transformation
Oct 17, 2000
ATK (NYSE: ATK) (Alliant Techsystems), Hopkins, Minn., and Rheinmetall DeTec AG, Ratingen, Germany, said they have signed a teaming agreement under which the companies will jointly develop next-generation large-caliber ammunition for use by future armored vehicles and current main battle tanks.
Products specified under the agreement are 105mm high-explosive and kinetic-energy smooth-bore ammunition and 120mm high-explosive smooth-bore tank ammunition. ATK will develop the advanced fuzes for the ammunition, which is being developed by Rheinmetall, and will receive exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the new rounds in the U.S.
Paul David Miller (PDM), ATK chairman and chief executive officer, said, "This agreement brings together the complementary capabilities of two of the world's premier munitions producers to better support the U.S. Army's transformation to the force of the future -- a combat force that will be lighter, more lethal, and more rapidly deployed. As a team in this area, we will be looking for more creative technology approaches to support the land forces of the U.S. and its allies as nations look for better and more cost-effective ways to support security.
"The products ATK and Rheinmetall will be developing under this agreement will serve both the near and long-term requirements of the U.S. Army as it undergoes this transformation. The lightweight combat vehicle 'shoot and move' concepts under consideration for the interim force Brigade Combat Teams and for the objective force Future Combat Systems are expected to have lighter capability such as the 105mm cannon. At the same time, we anticipate the Abrams main battle tank, which uses smooth-bore 120mm ammunition, remaining the primary armored platform for the legacy force -- a force needed to address multiple regional conflict scenarios."
Dr. Ernst-Otto Kramer, chairman of Rheinmetall DeTec, said the high-explosive capabilities of the new 105mm and 120mm ammunition the ATK/Rheinmetall team will be developing under the agreement are designed to meet the changing mission requirements of the world's military forces. ATK and Rheinmetall have a long history of successful cooperation on munitions programs. In 1979, Rheinmetall transferred the technology for a family of 120mm smooth-bore tank ammunition to ATK, which has since produced and delivered nearly three million rounds to the U.S. and allied nations.
Rheinmetall DeTec AG is the lead company of the Rheinmetall Group's defense sector. Principal business areas include large-caliber and medium-caliber ammunition, surface/sub-surface mine hunting systems, simulation and training systems, vehicle systems, air defense systems, and vetronics and flight platforms.
ATK is a $1.1 billion aerospace and defense company with leading market positions in munitions, smart weapons and precision capabilities, propulsion, and composite structures. The company, which is headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., employs approximately 6,400 people and has three business segments: Conventional Munitions, Aerospace Propulsion and Composites, and Defense Systems. ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/
SOURCE: ATK
Contact: Media, Rod Bitz, 612-931-5413, rod_bitz@atk.com, or Investors,
Mark Mele, 612-931-6367, mark_mele@atk.com, both of ATK
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