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ATK is System Prime Contractor on X-43A

ATK’s X-43A Sets World Speed Record for Hypersonic Flight *ATK Scramjet Achieves Positive Acceleration

Mar 30, 2004

Minneapolis, March 30, 2004 – ATK (Alliant Techsystems, NYSE: ATK) served as the system prime contractor on the X-43A program that achieved a world speed record for air-breathing powered flight. The X-43A Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet) engine-powered research vehicle demonstrated its world record capability on March 27. The ATK scramjet engine set another historical milestone by accelerating the X-43A vehicle after rocket motor separation, thereby achieving a key program objective.

In its role as prime contractor, ATK manufactured the X-43A scramjet engine, airframe, and fuel systems in addition to integrating the vehicle in preparation for flight. The ATK effort is led by ATK GASL, located in Ronkonkoma, N.Y and Tullahoma, Tenn.

Don Shaffer, group vice president, ATK Advanced Propulsion and Space Systems, said, "The successful flight test of the X-43A demonstrates the potential of ramjet/scramjet propulsion for critical Department of Defense and NASA requirements. As system prime contractor, ATK is well positioned to design and build future airframes for a variety of military and space launch purposes."

Vincent Rausch, NASA Hyper-X program manager, said, "In the nearer-term, rapid response for time-critical targets and precision stand-off capabilities will be significantly enhanced by the deployment of air-breathing scramjet engines. Future applications for hypersonic flight include low-cost space launch vehicles that offer reliable space transport."

ATK is a $2.3 billion aerospace and defense systems company. 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: the technical challenges of hypersonic flight, 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.