ATK to Missionize Three Maritime Patrol Aircraft for Customs and Border Protection

Released on Wednesday, July 23, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that it has been awarded contracts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) division to retrofit three additional aircraft with ATK's proprietary integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) system. The three Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) will be based at various locations in the United States and used by CBP's Air and Marine Operations to monitor drug trafficking and illegal immigration. They will also be available to perform search and rescue missions when required. These will be the fifth, sixth and seventh aircraft ATK delivers to the CBP in support of their critical border patrol mission.

ATK's sophisticated sensor suite allows the MPA aircraft to simultaneously detect numerous activities of interest at substantial stand-off range. Flight station operators using the arrays of sensors, displays and data links, can transmit critical data and intelligence instantaneously to ground and airborne control centers to assist in the interception and investigation of vehicles, aircraft, or persons of interest. The aircraft also record the data and imagery, which can subsequently be used for intelligence, investigation, and prosecution. All of the work will be performed at ATK's Fort Worth, Texas, facility.

"We are pleased to support the vital work the Department of Homeland Security performs to protect the nation's borders," stated Bill Kasting, Vice President of ATK's Integrated Systems division, headquartered in Woodland Hills, Calif. Mr. Kasting added, "The technology ATK developed for border patrol missions is attracting significant interest from international customers who are looking for affordable and very effective ways to introduce ISR into their own border security challenges."