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ATK Awarded $26.1 Million Contract to Develop and Manufacture the Space Threat Assessment Testbed System (STAT)

STAT Provides a Space Hardware Testing Capability Without the Expense of Space Flight

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that it has been awarded a $26.1 million contract by the U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) for the design, fabrication, installation and testing of the Space Threat Assessment Testbed (STAT) System. STAT will create a realistic space environment to perform developmental and early operational testing of space hardware for the Department of Defense, the National Reconnaissance Office and other federal agencies.

Key features of STAT include the capability to replicate complex natural space environments simulating Low Earth Orbit and Geosynchronous Orbits. In addition, STAT will simulate key man-made threats and provide a real-time connection capability that allows for involvement of ground station hardware, software and operators in the test and evaluation process.

"STAT capabilities will provide a new integrated, real-time simulation of complex space environments to enable technology maturation and performance verification necessary to advance technologies without incurring the cost and schedule of a space flight," said Bill Kasting, Vice President and General Manager of ATK's Integrated Systems, headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA.

STAT will also lay the foundation for near real-time connectivity to a satellite operations center, allowing the Air Force to perform integrated system testing and training, while also assisting in the development of tactics, techniques, and procedures for future space operations.

Overall program management and systems engineering will be done at ATK's facility in Goleta, Calif., by its world-class team of science and engineering experts skilled in space environments and effects, testing of materials and structures, test capabilities development, spacecraft operations, and mission planning. ATK facilities in Logan, Utah and Tullahoma, Tenn., will also contribute to the project. ATK Logan will coordinate and execute the design, fabrication, installation and testing of the STAT system, while ATK Tullahoma will handle onsite assembly, testing and checkout. Work is scheduled for completion in early 2013.

ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 17,000 employees in 21 states and approximately $4.6 billion in revenue. 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:

   Tom Van Leunen                              Steve Wold
   Phone:  703-412-3218                        Phone:  952-351-3056
   E-mail:  thomas.vanleunen@atk.com           E-mail:  steve.wold@atk.com