ATK Plays Key Roles in Successful Launch of Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-3) — Press Release

ATK Plays Key Roles in Successful Launch of Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-3)

ATK Supports First Launch of Delta IV Medium-Plus Vehicle Featuring Four Motors ATK’s Propulsion, Composite and Satellite Technologies Contribute to WGS Satellite Mission

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Alliant Techsystems’ (NYSE: ATK) composite, propulsion and spacecraft technologies supported the successful launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., carrying the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-3) for the U.S. Air Force.

This was the first time the Delta IV medium-plus rocket featured four ATK 60-inch-diameter Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM). The composite cases for the GEM motors were fabricated at the ATK Clearfield, Utah facility. The 70-foot-long motors were mounted in pairs on opposing sides of the rocket, with one fixed and one vectorable nozzle per side, and provided the auxiliary lift-off capability for the Delta IV medium plus configuration rocket. The GEM 60s burned for 90 seconds and provided 1,120,000 pounds of thrust to deliver the WGS satellite to its determined orbit.

ATK also designed and produced the nozzle for the Delta IV’s RS-68 engine. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne-built RS-68 is the largest hydrogen-fueled engine in the world. ATK also designed and produced the nozzle’s thermal protection material, which is capable of shielding the nozzle from the extreme heat of launch when external temperatures can exceed 4,000 degrees F. The nozzle is manufactured at ATK’s Promontory, Utah facility.

ATK supplied 10 key composite structures for the Delta IV medium plus launch vehicle: the interstage that provides the interface between the Common Booster Core (CBC) and the cryogenic second stage, a centerbody that integrates the liquid oxygen (LO2) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks, a thermal shield that protects the RS-68 engine during ignition and flight, one LO2 skirt, and one aeroskirt. The payload is encapsulated by ATK’s 5-meter diameter composite payload fairing, along with required hardware for payload integration including a nose cap, x-panels, payload attach fitting, and payload attach fitting diaphragm.

The composite structures are five meters in diameter and range from one to more than 15 meters in length. They are produced using hand layup, machining and inspection techniques at the company’s manufacturing facility in Iuka, Miss.

ATK provided key subsystem and component technologies for the successful launch of the WGS-3 satellite. ATK’s Commerce California facility provided the propellant tank for the Delta IV upper stage roll control system. Additionally, ATK Space Structures based in San Diego manufactured the payload module and the solar array substrates panels.

WGS-3, the third satellite of the series, will provide high-capacity X-band and Ka-band communications support to the U.S. and allied air forces in military operations across the world. WGS-1 has been in operation over the Pacific since April 2008, and WGS-2 has been operating over the Middle East since August 2009.

ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

Media Contact: Investor Contact:

Bryce Hallowell Jeff Huebschen
Phone: 952-351-3087 Phone: 952-351-2929
E-mail: bryce.hallowell@atk.com E-mail: jeff.huebschen@atk.com

Source: ATK

CONTACT: Bryce Hallowell, +1-952-351-3087, bryce.hallowell@atk.com, or
Investors, Jeff Huebschen, +1-952-351-2929, jeff.huebschen@atk.com, both of
ATK

Web Site: http://www.atk.com/

ATK and Elbit Systems Conduct Successful Flight Test of GATR From OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter — Press Release

ATK and Elbit Systems Conduct Successful Flight Test of GATR From OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter

RESULTS DEMONSTRATE LOW-COST, RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE PRECISION

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) and Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) have successfully conducted flight tests of the Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR) from a U.S. Army rotary-wing helicopter: the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

The tests took place during a recent U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) demonstration, conducted at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. GATR was fired from an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter using “lock-on before launch” to engage targets at ranges exceeding five kilometers. The multiple laser-designated guided test flights, launched from a standard 2.75-inch launcher, resulted in direct impacts on all targets. The pilot of the OH-58D was able to confirm lock-on of the GATR prior to launch.

“ATK and teammate Elbit Systems have rapidly developed and deployed a low-cost precision system to meet our customers’ needs,” said Mark DeYoung, ATK Senior Vice President and President Armament Systems.

Originally announced in July 2008, GATR benefits from a robust design, which combines combat-proven performance, a minimum smoke signature and the reliability of an ATK-produced propulsion system, similar to a system employed on millions of rockets produced for the United States Army. GATR contains a guidance and control system built with the experience of Elbit Systems’ heritage in high-performance laser seekers for the United States and international customers. It employs advanced acquisition, tracking and guidance algorithms to achieve one-meter accuracy against stationary and moving targets. In its tactical configuration, GATR will incorporate an Insensitive Munitions (IM) rocket motor and a family of IM warheads to include blast/fragmentation and penetration. GATR minimizes collateral damage, while providing stand-off deployment against a wide array of target sets.

GATR supports lock-on before or after launch as well as autonomous or remote laser designation. The system can be deployed against targets at ranges exceeding 8 kilometers from fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. It is compatible with existing 2.75″/70mm launcher hardware. GATR will be particularly effective in urban areas or against targets where a low collateral damage solution is required. The GATR system fills the gap between larger, more expensive guided missiles and the current family of unguided rockets.

About ATK

ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues in excess of $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms and developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications. For additional information, visit www.elbitsystems.com.

ATK

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, precision-fire weapons; 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.

Elbit Systems

This press release contains forwardlooking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact. Forward Looking Statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Forwardlooking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forwardlooking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.’s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Source: ATK

CONTACT: Elbit Systems, Dalia Rosen, Corp. Communications,
+972-4-8316784, fax, +972-4-8315666, dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com; or ATK,
Amanda Covington, Communications, +1-801-779-4625, amanda.covington@atk.com,
or Jeff Huebschen, Investor Relations, +1-952-351-2929,
jeff.huebschen@atk.com

Web Site: http://www.atk.com/

Navy awards target contract

The Navy uses a variety of targets to test new systems and also to train ship’s crew. Alliant Techsystems and CEi were awarded a contract to build the Multi-Stage Supersonic Target (MSST). This will simulate anti-ship surface-to-surface missiles. The press release says it cruises at sub-sonic speeds, but the name implies that at some point it is going over Mach 1. These kind of missiles are a dangerous threat to ships and they fly at low altitude and their speeds reduce reaction time by the air defense systems.

There is more at www.bizjournals.com.

Air Force buys sounding rockets

Alliant Techsystems was awarded a contract by the US Air Force to provide sounding rockets for it and NASA’s use. See a press release here. Sounding rockets tend to be small, single stage rockets that stay suborbital. They can be used to simulate targets for ballistic missile defense tests and experiments, and also support NASA activities and experiments. One common use before the Test Ban Treaty was to collect data from nuclear tests in the Pacific and the American West.

Army awards ammunition contract to alliance

Alliant Tech Systems (ATK) and Allied Defense Group won a contract from the US Army to provide 105 mm main gun ammunition. See the press release here. The ammo will be for the Stryker Main Gun System, which is a Stryker wheeled vehicle with a 105 mm gun in a low profile turret. This has been deployed to Iraq to provide the Stryker units some heavy firepower. The contract is worth $7.4 M over two years. ATK is a company that was created when Honeywell spun off some of their defense business and it later acquired Hercules Aviation and Thiokol Propulsion. For more on the company see this.

Fear of US export control laws lead Canada to deny sale of company

April 10, 2008 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Acquisitions, Alliant Techsystems, Canada 

According to this article the Canadian government denied the sale of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.’s satellite business to Alliant Techsystems Inc. See a previous post about the planned sale here. Canada cited the fact that if the company became American the laws protecting US technology exports would deny Canada access to the company’s satellite that focuses on the Canadian Arctic. Due to several scandals in the Nineties the US ramped up the laws governing technology transfer and export and make it very difficult to do this. Read more

US Air Force bans Alliant Techsystems from bidding on contracts

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Air Force has temporarily banned Alliant Techsystems from bidding on contracts due to a lawsuit filed by a former employee related to the company’s flares. See the article here. Alliant is appealing this decision, but in the short term will not be able to bid on any contract until the case is resolved. Because it is a whistleblower case the US Department of Justice is involved.

Army awards contract to upgrade explosives plant managed by Alliant

The Army gave Alliant Techsystems a $29 M contract to upgrade the ammunition plant in Radford, VA. See Forbes.com for more. Alliant is paid by the Army to manage the plant, and this contract will modernize the facility. Read more

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