Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, NYSE: ATK, is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated US$4.8 billion. The company headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Distribution Strategy
ATK realigned its business operations, forming a new segment, Advanced Propulsion and Space Systems. Following this realignment, and the acquisition of Mission Research Corporation, ATK now has five segments: ATK Thiokol, Ammunition, Precision Systems, Advanced Propulsion and Space Systems, and ATK Mission Research. Alliant Techsystems reorganized its business units, forming a new Precision Systems Group in the process. The group contains the majority of ATK’s precision and tactical propulsion capabilities, and will comprise four operating units: ATK Tactical Systems, Rocket Center, West Virginia, and Elkton, Maryland, previously led by Murphy; ATK Integrated Defense, Plymouth, Minnesota; ATK Ammunition Systems, Arden Hills, Minnesota; and ATK Precision Fuze, Janesville, Wisconsin. This group is located at ATK corporate headquarters in Edina, Minnesota.
Mission Research Corporation Acquired. In March 2004, ATK acquired Mission Research Corporation (MRC), a leader in the development of advanced technologies that address emerging homeland defense and national security requirements. Core technical competencies include directed energy, electro-optical and infrared sensors, aircraft sensor integration, high-performance antennas and radomes, advanced signal processing, and specialized composites. ATK Mission Research’s charter is to apply their talent and vision across ATK to create next-generation technologies that will transition from prototype development to production and fielding. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Hypersonic Units Acquired. In November 2003, Alliant Techsystems acquired two hypersonic flight businesses – GASL and Micro Craft – from Allied Aerospace. The transaction adds to ATK’s portfolio of leading-edge propulsion and airframe technologies for highly demanding aerospace and defense applications. GASL and Micro Craft are leaders in the development of hypervelocity and air-breathing systems for next-generation space vehicles, missiles, and projectiles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The two units had sales of about $40 million in 2002 and the purchase price was reportedly close to that.
ATK Acquires Composite Optics. In January 2003, Alliant Techsystems acquired Composite Optics Inc (COI), a leading supplier of advanced composite products for the space and aerospace markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in San Diego, California, COI has annual sales of approximately $70 million, and approximately 450 employees. The business will remain in San Diego, and will be integrated with ATK’s existing composite structures operations. COI composite products include telescope structures, optical benches, mirrors, instrument housings, satellite structures, and antenna reflectors. They serve as integral parts on a number of spacecraft, including Earth observation and weather satellites such as Landsat, Quickbird, and SeaWinds, and on scientific space platforms such as NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and James Webb Space Telescope, as well as the European Space Agency’s FIRST telescope, the U.S. Air Force’s Airborne Based Laser and Space Based Laser, and the Mars Global Surveyor.
ATK Acquires Assets of SAT. In October 2002, Alliant Techsystems acquired the assets of Science and Applied Technology Inc (SAT Inc), a privately held company with facilities in Woodland Hills, California, for an undisclosed amount. The core business of SAT Inc is the design, engineering, development, and testing of precision-guided military weapon systems. SAT Inc, which has annual sales of approximately $40 million and approximately 165 employees, will remain in Woodland Hills as part of ATK’s Precision Systems Group. SAT Inc programs include the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AAGRM), which is being developed as the successor to the existing AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). AARGM employs a multisensor guidance system capable of engaging enemy air defenses even after shutdown of radar emissions. The SAT Inc operation has been renamed ATK Missile Systems Company.
Alliant Buys Boeing Ordnance Unit. In May 2002, Boeing completed the sale of its ordnance business located in Mesa, Arizona, to Alliant Techsystems. The business will remain in Mesa and will be integrated into Alliant’s Ammunition Systems. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal was originally announced in March 2002. The unit developed and is manufacturing the Chain Gun® series of automatic cannon, of which the M230 (used on the AH-64) and M242 (used on the M 2/M-3 Bradley, Light Armored Vehicle-25, and numerous other armored vehicle types) are the most famous.
"ATK is focused on the future and aligning our capabilities to drive performance," said Mark DeYoung, President and CEO. "We are installing the right leadership at the right time, expanding our international business content, and teaming with industry partners. The realignment will extend our competitive reach, enhance our market agility to deliver on customer expectations of affordable, innovative solutions, and drive growth and shareholder value."
Blake Larson, who currently leads the Space Systems group, will lead the newly formed Aerospace Systems group, which will include the Space Systems group and the Aerospace Structures business of Mission Systems. Aerospace Systems will have capabilities in solid rocket propulsion systems, advanced materials, launch structures, next-generation commercial and military aircraft structures, satellite structures, and small satellite systems. Combining ATK's extensive composite structures and advanced materials expertise into this group will position it to become a growth engine for ATK by aligning capabilities to meet the anticipated demand in the rapidly expanding composite aircraft market.
Karen Davies, who led the Small Caliber Systems business of Armament Systems, will lead the Armament Systems group. The group is the world's largest military ammunition supplier with core competencies in efficient high-rate manufacturing, integrated weapon systems, gun-launched guided weapons, global supply chain management, and facility management. On April 1, ATK's precision munitions capability will be integrated into Armament Systems to leverage engineering and manufacturing disciplines across both legacy munitions and new weapon programs. ATK's precision weapon systems are moving from development to production. Armament Systems will provide strong manufacturing and process disciplines as these programs enter their production phase to ensure that ATK delivers the value its customers, and the nation, expect.
Bart Olson, who led Mission System's Tactical Propulsion and Controls division, will lead the newly formed Missile Products group on an interim basis. The Missile Products group fully aligns ATK's missile design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to meet program execution milestones and customer expectations. As a leading supplier of tactical rocket and missile components, missile warning systems, and special mission aircraft, the group will play an important role in the company's long-term growth strategy.
Since 2000 ATK has grown significantly as a result of both internal expansion and a series of acquisitions, including Thiokol propulsion, the ordnance business of Boeing and CCI/Speer, an ammunition manufacturer.
ATK Aerospace Systems
Headquartered in Magna, Utah
In November 2010, Alliant Techsystems was selected by NASA for consideration for potential contract awards for heavy lift launch vehicle system concepts, and propulsion technologies.
ATK Armament Systems
Currently the largest ammunition manufacturing entity in the world with operating facilities throughout the US.
Headquartered in Clearfield, Utah
ATK Missile Products
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland
ATK Security and Sporting
Headquartered in Anoka, Minnesota
Distribution Strategy
ATK realigned its business operations, forming a new segment, Advanced Propulsion and Space Systems. Following this realignment, and the acquisition of Mission Research Corporation, ATK now has five segments: ATK Thiokol, Ammunition, Precision Systems, Advanced Propulsion and Space Systems, and ATK Mission Research. Alliant Techsystems reorganized its business units, forming a new Precision Systems Group in the process. The group contains the majority of ATK’s precision and tactical propulsion capabilities, and will comprise four operating units: ATK Tactical Systems, Rocket Center, West Virginia, and Elkton, Maryland, previously led by Murphy; ATK Integrated Defense, Plymouth, Minnesota; ATK Ammunition Systems, Arden Hills, Minnesota; and ATK Precision Fuze, Janesville, Wisconsin. This group is located at ATK corporate headquarters in Edina, Minnesota.
Mission Research Corporation Acquired. In March 2004, ATK acquired Mission Research Corporation (MRC), a leader in the development of advanced technologies that address emerging homeland defense and national security requirements. Core technical competencies include directed energy, electro-optical and infrared sensors, aircraft sensor integration, high-performance antennas and radomes, advanced signal processing, and specialized composites. ATK Mission Research’s charter is to apply their talent and vision across ATK to create next-generation technologies that will transition from prototype development to production and fielding. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Hypersonic Units Acquired. In November 2003, Alliant Techsystems acquired two hypersonic flight businesses – GASL and Micro Craft – from Allied Aerospace. The transaction adds to ATK’s portfolio of leading-edge propulsion and airframe technologies for highly demanding aerospace and defense applications. GASL and Micro Craft are leaders in the development of hypervelocity and air-breathing systems for next-generation space vehicles, missiles, and projectiles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The two units had sales of about $40 million in 2002 and the purchase price was reportedly close to that.
ATK Acquires Composite Optics. In January 2003, Alliant Techsystems acquired Composite Optics Inc (COI), a leading supplier of advanced composite products for the space and aerospace markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in San Diego, California, COI has annual sales of approximately $70 million, and approximately 450 employees. The business will remain in San Diego, and will be integrated with ATK’s existing composite structures operations. COI composite products include telescope structures, optical benches, mirrors, instrument housings, satellite structures, and antenna reflectors. They serve as integral parts on a number of spacecraft, including Earth observation and weather satellites such as Landsat, Quickbird, and SeaWinds, and on scientific space platforms such as NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and James Webb Space Telescope, as well as the European Space Agency’s FIRST telescope, the U.S. Air Force’s Airborne Based Laser and Space Based Laser, and the Mars Global Surveyor.
ATK Acquires Assets of SAT. In October 2002, Alliant Techsystems acquired the assets of Science and Applied Technology Inc (SAT Inc), a privately held company with facilities in Woodland Hills, California, for an undisclosed amount. The core business of SAT Inc is the design, engineering, development, and testing of precision-guided military weapon systems. SAT Inc, which has annual sales of approximately $40 million and approximately 165 employees, will remain in Woodland Hills as part of ATK’s Precision Systems Group. SAT Inc programs include the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AAGRM), which is being developed as the successor to the existing AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). AARGM employs a multisensor guidance system capable of engaging enemy air defenses even after shutdown of radar emissions. The SAT Inc operation has been renamed ATK Missile Systems Company.
Alliant Buys Boeing Ordnance Unit. In May 2002, Boeing completed the sale of its ordnance business located in Mesa, Arizona, to Alliant Techsystems. The business will remain in Mesa and will be integrated into Alliant’s Ammunition Systems. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal was originally announced in March 2002. The unit developed and is manufacturing the Chain Gun® series of automatic cannon, of which the M230 (used on the AH-64) and M242 (used on the M 2/M-3 Bradley, Light Armored Vehicle-25, and numerous other armored vehicle types) are the most famous.
"ATK is focused on the future and aligning our capabilities to drive performance," said Mark DeYoung, President and CEO. "We are installing the right leadership at the right time, expanding our international business content, and teaming with industry partners. The realignment will extend our competitive reach, enhance our market agility to deliver on customer expectations of affordable, innovative solutions, and drive growth and shareholder value."
Blake Larson, who currently leads the Space Systems group, will lead the newly formed Aerospace Systems group, which will include the Space Systems group and the Aerospace Structures business of Mission Systems. Aerospace Systems will have capabilities in solid rocket propulsion systems, advanced materials, launch structures, next-generation commercial and military aircraft structures, satellite structures, and small satellite systems. Combining ATK's extensive composite structures and advanced materials expertise into this group will position it to become a growth engine for ATK by aligning capabilities to meet the anticipated demand in the rapidly expanding composite aircraft market.
Karen Davies, who led the Small Caliber Systems business of Armament Systems, will lead the Armament Systems group. The group is the world's largest military ammunition supplier with core competencies in efficient high-rate manufacturing, integrated weapon systems, gun-launched guided weapons, global supply chain management, and facility management. On April 1, ATK's precision munitions capability will be integrated into Armament Systems to leverage engineering and manufacturing disciplines across both legacy munitions and new weapon programs. ATK's precision weapon systems are moving from development to production. Armament Systems will provide strong manufacturing and process disciplines as these programs enter their production phase to ensure that ATK delivers the value its customers, and the nation, expect.
Bart Olson, who led Mission System's Tactical Propulsion and Controls division, will lead the newly formed Missile Products group on an interim basis. The Missile Products group fully aligns ATK's missile design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to meet program execution milestones and customer expectations. As a leading supplier of tactical rocket and missile components, missile warning systems, and special mission aircraft, the group will play an important role in the company's long-term growth strategy.
Since 2000 ATK has grown significantly as a result of both internal expansion and a series of acquisitions, including Thiokol propulsion, the ordnance business of Boeing and CCI/Speer, an ammunition manufacturer.
ATK Aerospace Systems
Headquartered in Magna, Utah
In November 2010, Alliant Techsystems was selected by NASA for consideration for potential contract awards for heavy lift launch vehicle system concepts, and propulsion technologies.
ATK Armament Systems
Currently the largest ammunition manufacturing entity in the world with operating facilities throughout the US.
Headquartered in Clearfield, Utah
ATK Missile Products
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland
ATK Security and Sporting
Headquartered in Anoka, Minnesota
Last edited: