ATK Rocket Motor Supports Successful Flight Test of Missile Defense Prototype Interceptor
Sep 4, 2001
ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE: ATK) said a solid rocket motor developed by its Aerospace Group provided the first-stage propulsion during the first successful flight test of a booster vehicle that is a prototype interceptor missile for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense Segment (GMDS) Program (formerly National Missile Defense).
The flight test of the three-stage vehicle, which was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on Aug. 31, verified launch operations and procedures and completed a three-stage fly-out and separation. The test did not involve an intercept attempt, but the vehicle carried a mock exoatmospheric kill vehicle (EKV) to simulate the mass and weight of an actual EKV that will be used in future intercept tests.
The GMDS program involves the development, testing, and potential deployment of a system to detect, track, and destroy hostile intercontinental ballistic missiles before they can reach any of the 50 states. ATK is developing the first-stage motor for the interceptor missile for The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), the prime contractor for the GMDS program, which is directed by The Joint Program Office of the Department of Defense Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).
"The GMDS program is an important first step in providing our nation with an effective and cost-efficient defense against missile threats," said Gerald Smith, president, ATK Thiokol Propulsion Company. "Our solid propulsion team is tremendously proud to support Boeing and BMDO on this important initiative."
The ATK solid propulsion motor, a vectorable version of the company's proven Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM) 40 used on Boeing Delta II launch vehicles, was qualified for flight in June, following final testing of the thrust vector control system (TVC). The motor and nozzle completed flight qualification in January.
The next scheduled flight test of the GMDS booster vehicle is planned for December. ATK's first-stage propulsion system for the test has already been successfully completed and is ready for delivery to The Boeing Company.
ATK estimates that sales resulting from the GMDS program could total over $200 million over the next eight years.
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 9,600 people and has two business segments: Aerospace and Defense. ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/
The forecast for anticipated sales included in this news release is a "forward-looking statement" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results, including changes in governmental spending and budgetary policies, economic conditions, the company's competitive environment, the timing of awards and contracts, the outcome of contingencies, program performance, and sales projections, in addition to other factors identified in ATK's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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
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