ATK and RUAG Aerospace Sign Teaming Agreement to Provide Upgrades for AIM-9P Missiles

Released on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS and EMMEN, Switzerland, July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) and RUAG Aerospace of Emmen, Switzerland have signed a teaming agreement to provide full-service and upgrade support of the AIM-9P-3/4/5 Sidewinder family of infrared air-to-air missiles. The agreement will provide the international user community with a primary point of contact for upgrading and extending the service life of existing inventory of AIM-9P missiles.

The new alliance will combine the existing capabilities of each company to provide expertise in upgrading the 9P's. ATK will supply new solid propellant rocket motors and RUAG will refurbish the guidance control sections and seekers. By upgrading their existing 9P's the international user community will get a product that will be useable beyond the year 2020, at a significantly lower cost than procuring new short-range air-to-air missile systems.

There are approximately 10,000 AIM-9P's in active status inventory worldwide and the missile remains an integral part of the defensive air-launched inventory of numerous allied nations.

"The teaming arrangement announced today offers the international user community a low-cost alternative to fielding a new short-range air-to-air missile without the added expense of aircraft modifications that would be required to fire the newer short-range alternatives," said Jack Cronin, President of ATK Mission Systems.

"As the sole source contractor for the United States Air Force in the field of Sidewinder AIM-9P depot level maintenance, RUAG Aerospace is fully committed to offering a cost effective option to extend the service life of existing AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles. This solution will enable sustainable savings to end users as well as an alternative to huge capital investment in replacement of air-to-air short range missiles and costly adaptation of front line aircraft," said Philipp Berner, Executive Vice President, RUAG Aircraft and Defence Systems.