Alliant Techsystems

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) (formerly known as Thiokol) is a manufacturer of ammunition, smart bombs, and rocket propulsion systems. The business website Hoover's described the company as "a leader in the production of solid propulsion rocket motors, ATK builds motors for space launch vehicles such as the Trident II and the Delta II. ATK is also one of the top suppliers of ammunition -- from small-caliber rounds to tank ammunition -- to the US and its allies. Additional lethal offerings include anti-tank mines, aircraft weapons systems, and high-tech weapons components. The US government and its prime contractors account for about 75% of sales."

The company, which is headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, employs approximately 17,000 people and had $3.6 billion in sales in 2007. The company has three business groups: ATK Ammunition Systems, ATK Launch Systems and ATK Mission Systems.

History
In a profile of the company written in 2000 for the Arms Trade Resource Center, Frida Berrigan and Michelle Ciarrocca note that "Alliant was spun off from Honeywell in 1991 and suffered a hostile take-over by Hercules Incorporated in 1993. It is a $1.2 billion a year business which operates in 23 congressional districts throughout the United States and has international sales office in 33 countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Malaysia, Chile, Pakistan, India, Greece and Turkey. For fiscal years 1996 through 1999, the most recent years for which full data is available, Alliant Techsystems received a cumulative total of about $1.5 billion in Pentagon contracts. Total company sales were roughly $4.1 billion in total for those four years, which means that the company has depended on Pentagon contracts for about 37% of its sales over the past four years. ... Alliant Techsystems makes some of the deadliest and most problematic weapons systems in the United States (and global) arsenals."

They also note that "Alliant's nuclear production wing, Hercules Inc., has suffered two major whistleblower lawsuits in recent years, paying out a total of almost $60 million in 1998" and that the company "makes depleted uranium shells for use in U.S. tanks, armored personnel carriers, air gunships and howitzers."

In a November 2007 report on the arms trade, Bank Track notes that "Alliant has produced over 15 million 30 mm PGU-14 shells used in the A10 aircraft’s Gatling Gun, that was widely used in the former Yugoslavia."

Acquisitions:
Accudyne Corporation, Kilgore Corporation, Ferrulmatic Inc., Hercules Aerospace Company, Thiokol Propulsion Corp., Sporting Equipment Group of Blount International, Ordnance business of The Boeing Company, Science and Applied Technology Inc., Composite Optics Inc.

Public Subsidies:

 * $51.3 million federal dollars have been expended at the Radford Arsenal in ARMS Act monies
 * $12 million in federal ARMS Act monies to relocate to Radford from the Joliet, IL Arsenal
 * The Alliant Tech Ordnance Group was established at Radford in January of 1996 using $43,000 in ARMS funding to renovate the Administration Building.
 * In April of 1997, Alliant received $19 million in ARMS funds to bring its commercial powders plant from Kenvil, New Jersey to Radford.

Political contributions
Alliant Techsystems gave $237,154 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 35% to Democrats and 65% to Republicans.

Lobbying
The company spent $1,400,000 for lobbying in 2006. $357,500 went to seven lobbying firms with the remainder being spent using in-house lobbyists. One of the lobbying firms used was Kimmitt, Senter, Coates & Weinfurter.

Directors
Accessed March 2008:


 * Daniel J. Murphy - CEO
 * Frances D. Cook
 * Martin C. Faga
 * General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret.)
 * Cynthia L. Lesher
 * Douglas L. Maine
 * Roman Martinez IV
 * Mark H. Ronald
 * Michael T. Smith
 * William G. Van Dyke

Personnel
Key executives and 2007 pay:
 * Daniel J. Murphy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, $10,702,505
 * John L. Shroyer, Chief Financial Officer, $1,518,346
 * Paula J. Patineau, Senior Vice President Human Resources and Administrative Services

Board of Directors:
 * Frances D. Cook, Formerly served as Ambassador or chief of a diplomatic post four times and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State twice
 * Martin C. Faga, Also a Director of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Corporation, Former Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
 * Ronald R. Fogleman, Former General United States Air Force
 * Mark H. Ronald, Former Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Inc.

Contact details
Corporate Headquarters 5050 Lincoln Drive Edina, MN 55436 Phone: 952-351-3000 Email: atk.corporate AT atk.com Web: http://www.atk.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Campaign Against the Arms Trade
 * defense contractors
 * federal contractors
 * military-industrial complex
 * National Missile Defense Contractors
 * American Council on Global Nuclear Competitiveness
 * William T. Creson

External resources

 * "Alliant Techsystems", Reaching Critical Will, accessed December 2007.
 * Alliant Action, Alliant Action, a watchdog group website
 * "ATK Products", ATK, 2004. (This page is now only available as an archived webpage).
 * Sample Business Contracts, FindLaw, accessed December 2007. (This page features a series of Alliant Techsystems Inc. contracts between May 1998 and January 2001.
 * "Alliant Techsystems", Business.com, accessed December 2007. (This is a link to a search on current news on the company).
 * Department of Justice, "Landmine Manufacturer Will Pay U.S. $12 million to Settle Allegations it submitted False Claims to the Government", Media Release, June 26, 1995.