Alliant Techsystems
|
|
AlliantTechsystemsLogo.png
Alliant Techsystems logo
Alliant Techsystems Template:NYSE is a major US aerospace and defense contractor with sales of approximately USD $2.2 billion (circa 2004) and strong positions in propulsion, composite structures, munitions, precision capabilities, and civil and sporting ammunition. It was spun off from Honeywell in 1990. Their headquarters are in Edina, Minnesota.
The company is known to produce a number of controversial weapons, including depleted uranium rounds and cluster bombs. They did manufacture anti-personnel landmines for the U.S. Military in the past, but they do not currently have a contract to produce more at this time, according to their spokes-people. For these reasons, the company has been a target of peace movement protests because these weapons are considered by many around the world to be a violation of international law and treaties since they are by definition indiscriminate weapons. There are weekly vigils held at Alliant Techsystems headquarters, as well as occasional organized acts of civil disobedience to protest the manufacture and sale of indiscriminate weapons.
Unlike some defense contractors who have been very aggressive with protesters, ATK has generally taken a low-key approach. While some arrests for trespassing have taken place, ATK employees have also provided cookies and coffee, since the weather in Minnesota is not conducive to year round picketing.
The firm makes a number of less controversial products, such as propulsion systems for NASA. Nearly every NASA planetary probe has used some form of propulsion from the one of the company's divisions, and ATK also participated in the X-43A project.
ATK owns a number of famous brands, including Thiokol, Federal, and others. It provides most of the small caliber ammunition for US police and military units. ATK has a large share of the sporting ammunition market as well. The company is also a leader in providing "green" ammunition to hunters and to military organizations, greatly reducing the use of heavy metals (e.g., lead) in wetlands, training ranges and combat settings.
Since 2000, ATK has moved to compete for larger, more complex systems, and has won a number of contracts for guided weapons. The company has also acquired several smaller firms, including Mission Research Corporation, an established contractor providing specialized, and often highly classified electronics to the USAF and other customers. Mission Research is said to be providing a number of innovative systems, including small low cost sensors for homeland security (monitoring for hazardous materials) and non-lethal beam weapons to disable people, cars, and explosives.
See also
External links
- Alliant Techsystems Inc. (http://www.atk.com)
- AlliantAction Protest Site (http://www.circlevision.org/alliantaction.html)