DTN News: Lockheed Martin And ATK Announce 2nd Generation Athena Launch Vehicles

DTN News: Lockheed Martin And ATK Announce 2nd Generation Athena Launch Vehicles Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin (NSI News Source Info) DENVER, - March 26, 2010: Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT - News) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK - News), have entered into a strategic teaming agreement to offer launch services utilizing upgraded and modernized Athena rockets. These vehicles, based on the flight-proven Athena I and II, are designed to provide reliable access to space for small payloads to a wide range of orbits. Lockheed Martin will provide mission management, payload integration, and launch operations, and ATK will provide integrated vehicle propulsion, launch vehicle structures, booster integration and launch site operations. The two-stage Athena Ic and three-stage Athena IIc launch vehicles incorporate the new CASTOR® 30 upper stage motor and upgrades to electronic systems. Athena is available for launches beginning in 2012, with a payload lift capability that supports a variety of customer mission requirements including NASA, the Department of Defense and other space markets. "The Athena launch vehicle family offers low-risk, reliable launch services at an affordable price," said John Karas, Vice President and General Manager, Human Space Flight, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Athena combines both companies' heritage and expertise in launch systems, and makes key system upgrades to provide an enhanced product, skill set and performance capabilities to meet market needs." Athena can carry payloads up to 3,775 pounds (1,712 kg) to low Earth orbit as well as missions to the moon. Utilizing a large 92-inch diameter payload fairing, the vehicle accommodates a wide range of satellites and missions. The rockets can be launched from multiple locations including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Kodiak Launch Complex, Vandenberg Air Force Base and NASA Wallops Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. "The new Athena family will fill an industry need for lift capability in this payload range," said Scott Lehr, Vice President and General Manager, Strategic and Commercial Systems, ATK Aerospace Systems. "There is a growing need for responsive launch capabilities to serve the Department of Defense, NASA and other customer requirements." First-generation Athena I and II rockets became operational in 1995 and have flown seven times. Athena II launched the Lunar Prospector to the moon in 1998 and remains the only commercially developed launch vehicle to fly a lunar mission. These second-generation Athena launch vehicles use the same flight-proven ATK CASTOR 120® for Stage I and Stage II. The modernized launch vehicles benefit from the latest technology of a newly-developed and ground-tested CASTOR® 30 for their upper stage, and Lockheed Martin's modernized electronic systems. Both solid rocket motors are in production and are being used on other launch vehicles in the industry. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion. News and information about Lockheed Martin can be found at http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ 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 of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/.

DTN News: Taiwan Secures MAWS for P-3s

DTN News: Taiwan Secures MAWS for P-3s *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) NEW YORK, USA - September 24, 2009: U.S. company Alliant Techsystems' Integrated Systems Division will supply Taiwan with the AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) under a $1.7 million contract awarded by the Pentagon. The systems will be installed on 12 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft now on order from Lockheed Martin for Taiwan. The aircraft can carry weapons in the bomb bay and on ten underwing pylons. The bomb bay is in the underside of the fuselage forward of the wing. It is capable of carrying a 2,000lb mine such as the mk25, mk39, mk55 or mk56. Alternative ordnance includes 1,000lb mines, depth bombs, torpedoes, or nuclear depth bombs. The underwing pylons can carry 2,000lb mines, torpedoes, rockets, rocket pods and 500lb mines. The US Navy P-3C aircraft are equipped to carry the Harpoon AGM-84 anti-ship and stand-off land attack missile. During the late 1990s the US Navy P-3C Orions armed with the Harpoon were deployed in Yugoslavia. US Navy P-3Cs are also being upgraded with the WESCAM 20 multi-sensor system, which includes thermal imager and CCD sensors. In February 2004, the Boeing SLAM-ER standoff land attack missile completed integration on the US Navy P-3C Orion. 59 aircraft are to be modified to carry the missile by the end of 2004. The deal, announced Sept. 22, will include 60 AAR-47 A(V)2 optical sensor converters, 15 AAR-47 A(V)2 control indicators and 15 AAR-47A(V)2 computer processors. Work is expected to be completed by March 2012. MAWS is a passive missile approach warning system."

ATK, Indonesian Aerospace Team For ISR Opportunities / PTDI And ATK Mission Systems Group In Cooperation

ATK, Indonesian Aerospace Team For ISR Opportunities / PTDI And ATK Mission Systems Group In Cooperation

(NSI News Source Info) March 13, 2009: PTDI (Indonesian Aerospace) is working out a closer cooperative agreement with Alliant Techsystems International Mission Group – Special Mission Aircraft Business, a leading and prominent company in the field of aerospace and defense from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA).

The MoU between the two companies is signed today by Vice President Director, Budi Santoso and ATK Vice President and General Manager, David L. Sharpen on March 11, 2009 in Jakarta. ATK Mission Systems - ATK provides mission systems solutions through ATK Mission Systems, a leading supplier of aerospace systems, weapons systems, and technical services. Major Products and Programs *Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) *Extended Range Munition (ERM) *120mm tank ammunition *Force protection systems *Fuzing and integrated ordnance *Directed-energy and high-power microwave technologies *Structures for aircraft, weapons, missile defense interceptors, satellites, and spacecraft *Electro-optical and infrared sensor systems and testing *Advanced signal processing and communications techniques *Hardened microelectronics for nuclear and space environments *Advanced laser and coherent optics applications *STAR upper-stage motors and STAR stages for spacecraft orbit transfer *Propulsion and control systems for missile defense interceptors *Hypervelocity and air-breathing propulsion systems for next-generation space vehicles and weapons *AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems *Integrated sensor and data acquisition for surveillance aircraft *Propulsion systems for tactical missiles and guided projectiles ATK Mission Systems Overview Locations and Contact Information

According to Budi Santoso, Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK) and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) have agreed to work together to explore and asses airborne intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) opportunities and initiatives leading to a future cooperative business relationship.

So far PTDI has successfully marketed its maritime patrol aircraft for both domestic and foreign uses, namely four CN-235 MPA for the Republic of South Korea, one unit of CN-235 MPA for the Indonesian Air Force and one unit of C-212 MPA for the Indonesian Navy.

Another PTDI experience in this field is MPA system application on the CN-235 operated by the Air Force and Navy of Turkey.