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July 9 - Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that they have signed a teaming agreement to develop the Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket - Laser (GATR-L). GATR-L provides an affordable precision strike capability for all fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) platforms. The 70mm rocket employs a Semi-Active Laser (SAL) guidance package to achieve high accuracy against both stationary and moving targets. In addition, GATR-L provides the ability to lock-on before launch to ensure only the target of interest is engaged. GATR-L is compatible with existing 70mm launcher hardware and utilizes enhanced Insensitive...

MOJAVE - XCOR Aerospace will help develop a rocket engine for NASA's next manned spacecraft under a multimillion-dollar contract announced Tuesday. Mojave-based XCOR is teamed with Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, for the first phase of developing a rocket engine that runs on liquid oxygen and liquid methane, nontoxic fuels that could help lower the overall cost of spaceflight. XCOR's portion of the $10.4 million contract is $3.3 million, the biggest government contract the company has had to date, CEO Jeff Greason said. "We were a significant part of this team," he said. "We are very excited about the opportunity to...

Booster builder to design new rocket Contract had been expected BY JOHN KELLY FLORIDA TODAY CAPE CANAVERAL -- The maker of the shuttle's solid rocket boosters is NASA's choice to design and test a new rocket meant to carry astronauts on the first leg of their journey to the moon later next decade.Wednesday's official announcement, awarding the work to Alliant Techsystems of Utah, came as no surprise. The space agency said months ago it would use a modified version of the tall, skinny shuttle solid rocket boosters as the launcher for its new Apollo-like spaceship.Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, has built...

Multi-Million Dollar Contract to Demonstrate Key Technologies for Ballistic Missile System SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) office has awarded a team of Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK - News) a $9.2 million contract to demonstrate and validate solid rocket motor technologies suitable for developing an affordable Submarine Launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile System (SLIRBM). Under the 16-month contract, the team will identify the appropriate level of technology insertion that will then be demonstrated through static firings of first and second stage boost motors. The purpose of...

ATK and NASA Successfully Test First Solar Sail Propulsion System ATK Solar Sail Technology Will Enable Solar-powered Interplanetary Probes and Solar Observatories Minneapolis, May 6, 2005 – Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) and NASA have successfully tested the functional deployment and attitude control of an ultra-lightweight, high-performing solar sail propulsion system. This was the first in a series of ground-tests for ATK’s sailcraft technology that will be conducted through July. All initial test objectives were met. The test marks a critical milestone in developing an alternative in-space propulsion technology that uses the sun’s energy instead of onboard propellant to provide thrust....