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ATK and RUAG Munition Team to Pursue Specific Ammunition Opportunities

Aug 6, 2001

ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE: ATK) and RUAG Munition, Thun, Switzerland, said they have teamed to jointly pursue ammunition business opportunities in the U.S. and in selected international markets.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed Aug. 2 in Minneapolis, the companies will focus on two market segments: warhead technology and mortar ammunition. Two ATK companies, ATK Ammunition Systems Company, Arden Hills, Minn., and ATK Integrated Defense Company, Hopkins, Minn., will conduct work under the agreement.

"This alliance brings together two world leaders in the design, development, and production of ammunition, warheads, and munition systems," said Nick Vlahakis, ATK group vice president, Defense. "As a team, we will be looking for opportunities to support the development of new munition systems and upgrades to existing systems in these market segments. This agreement is another building block in our strategy to increase international cooperation to better meet the needs of the world's military forces."

"RUAG Munition will bring its unique core competencies in fragmentation technology and in design and manufacturing of high-performance warheads to this alliance," said Ernst Bronnimann, RUAG Munition vice president. "The ATK/RUAG Munition team will be among the leaders in ammunition design and manufacturing both in the U.S. and internationally."

RUAG Munition, an internationally recognized center of excellence in defense technology, has been the Swiss Army's main supplier of ammunition for more than 100 years. The company's products include artillery, mortar, and tank ammunition, light anti-tank weapons, warheads for guided missiles, small arms ammunition, and pyrotechnics.

RUAG, with its four companies, RUAG Aerospace, RUAG Electronics, RUAG Land Systems, and RUAG Munition, is a CHF 1.0 billion defense technology group. RUAG Munition is a CHF 250 million ammunition company with 1,100 employees.

ATK is a $1.6 billion aerospace and defense company with leading positions in propulsion, composite structures, munitions, and precision capabilities. The company, which is headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., employs approximately 10,000 people and has two business segments: Aerospace and Defense. ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/

SOURCE: Alliant Techsystems

Contact: Media, Rod Bitz, +1-952-931-5413, rod_bitz@atk.com, or
Investors, Steve Wold, +1-952-931-6747, steve_wold@atk.com, both of Alliant Techsystems