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ATK Awarded $9 Million Contract to Produce Missile Warning System Sensor Upgrade Kits

Jan 15, 2002

ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE: ATK) has been awarded a $9 million contract from the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. to begin low-rate initial production of sensor upgrade kits for the AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System. The kits will be delivered to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force for integration into multiple aircraft platforms.

Work under the contract will be conducted by ATK Integrated Defense Company, Plymouth, Minn., at its defense electronics manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Fla.

The AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems is an electro-optical missile warning system for low, slow-flying aircraft. The system detects missile launches and laser illumination from a variety of missile sources and provides a signal to dispense countermeasures. With the basic AN/AAR-47 system already in service in over 2,000 aircraft, the improved sensor technology greatly increases reaction time with significantly reduced false alarm rates.

An added benefit of the upgrade is the integral laser-warning sensor imbedded in the existing AN/AAR-47 system sensor footprint. This improved performance is provided at a significantly lower life-cycle cost than the current system.

"The upgraded system will provide a step-jump improvement in the missile protection provided for Navy and Air Force helicopter and transport aircraft fleets," said Al Calabrese, general manager and missile warning business segment director, ATK Integrated Defense Company - Clearwater Operations. "The fact that this capability is provided in a low-cost, simple system is providing great value to the services."

"The AN/AAR-47 improved sensors have demonstrated excellent results in missile warning tests conducted over the last year," said U.S. Navy Captain Bob Boyd, NAVAIR PMA-272, Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems, under the PEO for Advanced Tactical Systems. "In today's environment, these systems will provide a dramatic improvement in aircraft protection at an affordable cost."

ATK is a $2 billion aerospace and defense company with leading positions in propulsion, composite structures, munitions, and precision capabilities. The company, which is headquartered in Edina, Minn., employs approximately 11,000 people and has two business groups: 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, +1-952-351-3063, rod_bitz@atk.com, or
Investors, Steve Wold, +1-952-351-3056, steve_wold@atk.com, both of ATK