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ATK Reaches Key Milestone on F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Production

F-35 JSF Fiber Placement Mandrel is one of the World’s Largest

Feb 5, 2004

Minneapolis, Feb. 5, 2004 – ATK (Alliant Techsystems, NYSE: ATK) has reached a key production milestone in support of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program with the delivery of the mandrel used to manufacture F-35 single-segment, all-composite upper wing skins. The mandrel was delivered to ATK Composites, Clearfield, Utah. Coast Composites, Irvine, Calif., produced the tool.

Jim Nichols, vice president of programs, ATK Composites, said the ATK-designed mandrel will use an automated fiber placement process that brings unprecedented precision to the manufacturing process.

"This tool will allow ATK to achieve an extremely close profile tolerance," said Nichols. "The on-time delivery of the mandrel ensures that we will continue to meet our commitments on this very important program."

The mandrel is 8 feet tall, 14 feet wide, and 43 feet long, and weighs 55,400 pounds. It is among the largest fiber placement mandrels ever produced. Made of Invar, a steel alloy with high nickel content and low thermal distortion properties, the mandrel’s durability should extend its life cycle throughout the production run of the F-35.

ATK Composites, the largest producer of filament-wound and fiber-placed structures in the U.S., has revolutionized the composites industry through 40 years of innovation and manufacturing excellence. The company produces structures and materials for space launch vehicles and commercial and military aircraft.

ATK is a $2.2 billion aerospace and defense company with strong positions in propulsion, composite structures, munitions, precision capabilities, and civil and sporting ammunition. The company, which is headquartered in Edina, Minn., employs approximately 12,600 people and has three business groups: Precision Systems, Aerospace, and Ammunition and Related Products. ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: unforeseen delays in F-35 production, changes in governmental spending and budgetary policies, economic conditions, equity market returns, the company's competitive environment, the timing of awards and contracts, the outcome of contingencies, including litigation and environmental remediation, program performance, and sales projections. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, reference should be made to ATK’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and annual reports on Form 10-K.