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ATK Selected for U.S. Air Force BattleAxe Follow-on Contract

Innovative ATK Technology Will Provide Added Capability for the Warfighter

MINNEAPOLIS, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today it was selected by Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to receive a $1.6 million contract to continue development of an innovative small, lightweight warhead that will provide a unique battlefield solution to stop an enemy target.

The BattleAxe warhead program is funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The goal of this program is to develop a multi-role, miniature warhead. BattleAxe uses material which allows a smaller warhead to destroy targets completely without causing major collateral damage to the surrounding areas.

Potential targets for the BattleAxe include, unarmored and armored vehicles, buildings in urban environments, and other potential threats. Applications for this warhead include low-cost mini-cruise-missiles and weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles, allowing greater protection for deployed troops in hostile environments.

"The BattleAxe technology offers the warfighter the capability to defeat an enemy threat with a smaller weapon," said David Riemer, ATK vice president of Science and Engineering. "This lightweight warhead provides significant operational flexibility and a capability that today, only exists in larger weapons

The BattleAxe program consists of three-phases. ATK successfully completed a phase one program and has won the phase two down-select to be the single provider.

ATK is an advanced weapon and space systems company with annual revenues in excess of $4.1 billion that employs approximately 17,000 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://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 challenges of developing advanced warhead technology, changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company's competitive environment; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; and economic conditions. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

   Media Contact:                            Investor Contact:
   Trina Patterson                           Steve Wold
   Phone:  801-699-0943                      Phone:  952-351-3056
   E-mail:  trina.patterson@atk.com          E-mail:  steve.wold@atk.com