ATK/GIWS SMArt 155 Sensor Fuzed Munition Succeeds in UAE Desert Tests
ATK/GIWS Rounds Demonstrate Lethality in Adverse Battlefield Conditions
Jan 10, 2005
Minneapolis, January 10, 2005 – Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) and its European partner Gesellschaft für Intelligente Wirksysteme (GIWS) of Germany recently demonstrated the effectiveness of the Sensor-fuzed Munition for Artillery (SMArt®155) program to representatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Results from the test show that the SMArt® 155 achieved a perfect rating in functional reliability during first firings from a UAE G6 self-propelled howitzer. Demonstrating its lethal impact, 67 percent of the armored targets were scored as kills.
ATK teams with GIWS on the SMArt®155 program in the United States. More than 11,000 SMArt® 155 rounds are currently in service in the German, Swiss and Greek armed forces.
The SMArt® 155’s unique combination of sensors, spanning a broad range of wavelengths, performs exceptionally well in adverse conditions such as fog, smoke or precipitation; conditions that impede the performance of single sensors or single wavelength suites of sensors. The combined input of IR sensors, radiometers and active radars, coupled with state-of-the-art advanced signal processing differentiates this round from others and significantly enhances its performance.
Test results also show that the SMArt® 155 is capable of distinguishing a hot target from a cold background as well as a cold target from a hot background. This functionality is particularly important in desert climates with "crossover" times of day that can impact thermal imaging performance.
In addition to supplying the SMArt® 155 to Germany, Greece and Switzerland, ATK and GIWS are conducting qualification testing for a number of additional countries that are considering adding the SMArt® 155 to their precision weapons inventories.
ATK is a $2.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing 13,800 people in 23 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.
Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: the challenges of developing next-generation precision weapons, economic conditions, equity market returns, the company's competitive environment, the timing of awards and contracts, and sales projections. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and the statements contained herein, reference should be made to ATK’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and annual reports on Form 10-K.
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