Space

ATK Selects Avionics Contractor for Ares I First Stage

ATK Awards $65 Million Contract to L-3 Communications

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced it has selected L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL), to provide key components of the avionics subsystem for the First Stage of NASA's next-generation human launch vehicle -- the Ares I.

In December 2005, NASA named ATK as the prime contractor for the Ares I first stage. In August 2007, ATK received a $1.8 billion contract from NASA to continue the design, development, test and evaluation (DDT&E) phase of the first stage through 2014.

The First Stage consists of a five-segment solid rocket booster, similar to the four-segment boosters used for Space Shuttle launches.

"L-3 won a hard-fought competitive procurement, said Mike Kahn, Vice President of Space Launch Systems, ATK Launch Systems Group. They showed their innovation and ability to perform this critical role and we're pleased to have them on the Ares I First Stage team."

L-3's Cincinnati Electronics subsidiary is responsible for providing the Booster Control/Power Distribution Unit, Data Acquisition/Recorder Unit, Hydraulic Power Unit Controller, Ignition/Separation Unit and Recovery Control Unit. ATK will be responsible for avionics subsystem integration and certification.

Each avionics subsystem flight set consists of 18 electronic boxes located throughout the Ares I first stage. Under the contract, L-3 Cincinnati Electronics will conduct various aspects of the DDT&E phase including delivery of development, qualification, system integration and flight test sets to begin in 2009. The L-3 DDT&E contract extends through 2014.

L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics designs and produces mission-critical electronics for the infrared sensing, global positioning and space electronics markets.

ATK is a $4.1 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 16,500 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: 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:
   George Torres                               Steve Wold
   Phone:  801-251-2819                        Phone:  952-351-3056
   E-mail:  george.torres@atk.com              E-mail:  steve.wold@atk.com