MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) was awarded a $4 million Integration and Demonstration (I&D) contract by the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command. ATK was one of three companies awarded an I&D contract to develop an alternative warhead for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). The I&D phase will span 17 months and conclude with a live-fire test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, where the Army will down-select a design to proceed into the engineering and manufacturing design and demonstration (EMDD) phase.

During the I&D phase ATK will perform engineering trade studies, component and system optimization, simulation and analysis, preliminary design, and warhead fabrication and testing. The ultimate goal is to develop a drop-in replacement for the currently fielded Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) warhead for the GMLRS.

In 2008, ATK self-funded the development and testing of two GMLRS warhead configurations to demonstrate different technical designs. Both configurations were successfully tested and the best design was selected for the I&D phase. ATK's innovative design uses commercial grade components to meet mission requirements, lower technical risk, match current warhead flight characteristics and not modify the existing delivery system.

"ATK's GMLRS alternative warhead design is a prime example of our ability to develop innovative and advanced technical approaches to deliver safer, more effective and affordable products for our warfighters," said Bart Olson, vice president and general manager of ATK Tactical Propulsion and Controls division. "ATK's self-funded demonstration program allowed us to enter this competition with a design that meets mission requirements, reduces the likelihood of battlefield unexploded ordnance, and meets our customer's cost goals."

Design, development, analysis, and simulation work will be performed at ATK's Plymouth, Minnesota facility. Warhead production will occur at our ATK's Alleghany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, West Virginia.

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.

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 designing and developing warheads; 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:

    Rod Gibbons                      Jeff Huebschen
    Phone:  410-864-4932             Phone:  952-351-2929
    E-mail:  rod.gibbons@atk.com     E-mail:  jeff.huebschen@atk.com

SOURCE ATK