Marines load ammunition into an Abrams tank. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John M. McCall.

DULLES, Va., Oct. 9 By Richard Tomkins (UPI)

Orbital is to develop a new 120mm multi-purpose round for tanks under a first-phase development contract from the U.S. Army.

Next-generation, multi-purpose 120 millimeter ammunition is to be developed for U.S. Abrams tanks by Orbital ATK. The U.S. Army contract for first-phase development work is worth $16 million. "Our ammunition innovations like advanced kinetic energy penetrators and airbursting munitions are providing combat overmatch for our warfighters -- which is our company's mission," said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager for Orbital ATK's Armament Systems division, of the Defense Systems Group. "Our ability to innovate comes from a long history of creating new capabilities for existing systems through our expertise in fuzing, warheads and platform integration." Orbital ATK said the 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose, XM1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer cartridge will replace four existing rounds, including those for defeating armor and breaching reinforced walls.

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11 March 2015 army-technology.com

Orbital ATK has been awarded a contract to supply additional precision guidance kits (PGKs) to the US Army for 155mm artillery systems.

Under the terms of the $120m agreement, the company will be responsible for the production, lot acceptance testing and delivery of guidance fuses for the US and select allied forces.

PGK is a guidance fuse designed to fit within the fuse well of 155mm high-explosive artillery projectiles and can transform existing, conventional artillery projectiles into precision weapons that significantly reduce dispersion to 30m or less, enabling accurate targeting.

Orbital ATK Defense Systems Group Armament Systems division vice-president and general manager Dan Olson said: "This contract signing marks another significant milestone for the PGK programme.

"Fielding PGK for use with existing artillery projectiles provides soldiers with a distinct battlefield advantage, by greatly reducing the inherent dispersion associated with conventional artillery.

"As a proven and qualified technology, the next step is growing PGK into future precision applications for either existing or new direct and indirect-fire weapons systems."

The kit features a fixed-canard guidance and control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply, and also incorporates a fail safe option, which prevents PGK-equipped artillery from detonating if it fails to get close enough to the target.

The kit was supplied to the US military for training and tactical operations in Afghanistan through an urgent release in March 2013.

PGK programme management, systems integration and production is overseen by Orbital ATK Defense Systems Group's Armament Systems division in Plymouth, Minnesota, US.

Deliveries are scheduled to start next year, without a production break from low-rate initial production, which started in January.

Aug 11, 2014 ASDNews Source : Alliant Tech Systems, Inc (ATK)

ATK, a world leader in precision-guided weapons, missile products and rocket motors, has been awarded a contract valued at $96.2 million by the U.S. Navy for the third full-rate production lot of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). The contract covers AARGM and Captive Air Training Missiles for the U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force.

"AARGM continues to provide significant advanced capabilities to those who protect our nation each and every day," said Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of ATK's Defense Electronic Systems division. "We look forward to continuing to provide this critical weapons system on schedule and on budget to the U.S. Navy and our allies."

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June 17, 2014 by Craig Hoyle - FG

Jordan is to modify one of its Airbus Defence & Space-produced C295 medium transports as a gunship, with the adapted platform to join two recently-delivered AC235s in air force service.

Airbus on 17 June announced it is to work on the programme with Jordan’s King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau and US contractor ATK, which were responsible for the conversion of a pair of CN235s handed over to Jordan earlier this year. The European airframer provided technical support during the previous project.

“A C295 operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force will be converted to [a] gunship by ATK,” Airbus says. The service has two of the medium transports in service, with Flightglobal’s Ascend Online database recording these as having been built in 2003.

Plans call for the larger model to be equipped with onboard mission and fire control systems, an electro-optical/infrared sensor, a synthetic aperture radar payload and a defensive aids system for self-protection. Armaments will include an ATK-supplied 30mm sideways-firing chain gun, Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and 70mm guided rockets. BAE Systems was recently selected to supply its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System to meet the latter requirement for the AC235.

Antonio Rodríguez Barberán, head of commercial at Airbus’s Military Aircraft unit – who earlier this month said a customer announcement was expected “soon” – describes the future C295 gunship as “a cost-effective and powerful addition to the Jordan armed forces”.

Airbus lists potential duties for an armed C295 as including providing close air support for special forces personnel, plus target acquisition, armed reconnaissance and combat search and rescue.

ARLINGTON, Va., June 9, 2014 /PRNewswire

ATK (NYSE: ATK) will highlight a variety of advanced capabilities and products as an exhibitor during Eurosatory 2014. The land and air-land defense and security international exhibition takes place at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Centre, June 16 -20, 2014. The ATK display is located in Hall 5, Stand B522. 

ATK will highlight multiple current and next generation products at Eurosatory 2014 that support the armed forces of the U.S. and allied nations. These include precision guidance for artillery and mortars; advanced ammunition for main battle tanks; small-caliber ammunition; non-standard (non-NATO) ammunition and weapons; a complete line of medium-caliber ammunition for air, land and sea weapon platforms – including air bursting munitions; the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement system; 30mm and 40mm configurations of the Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster^® automatic cannon; and the recently reintroduced coaxial-mounted Mk52 chain gun by ATK.

Also available will be descriptions of ATK's gunship offerings, which deliver customized, innovative capabilities including precision weapons and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to allied nations.

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 26 (UPI)

Alenia Aermacchi's U.S. partner for weaponizing the C-27J airlifter has given details of the armaments the aircraft will carry and how it will carry them.

ATK said the MC-27J variant will be equipped with its GAU-23 Bushmaster 30mm cannon configured for firing from the side of the plane. The gun uses a simple, automatic feed system and fires a variety of NATO 30mm rounds.

The weapon system will be mounted on a roll-on/roll-off pallet for quick mounting and removal from MC-27J via the plane's rear ramp, allowing for quick reconfiguration of the aircraft for other missions, including command and control through pallet-mounted sensors and communications equipment.

The aircraft can also be used for transporting troops and cargo.

The first customer for the MC-27J is the Italian Air Force, which will use the aircraft for its special forces, which will deploy the plane in an operational theater next spring.

"The selection of the MC-27J by the Italian Air Force and the fielding of this aircraft recognize the significant capability we have teamed to provide," said Mike Kahn, president of the ATK Defense Group. "Our partnership with Alenia Aermacchi on the MC-27J will give the Italian Air Force an adaptable, agile and affordable multi-mission solution."

The base C-27J is a twin-engine turboprop transport with a cruise speed of 362 mph, a ceiling of 30,000 feet and a range of more than 1,000 miles with a payload of 22,000 pounds.

November 19, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: ATK; issued November 19, 2013)

ATK and Alenia Aermacchi Earn Contract from the Italian Air Force for Roll-On/Roll-Off Palletized Gun and Command and Control Systems

ARLINGTON, Va. --- ATK announced that the Alenia/ATK team has been notified by the Italian Air Force they have been selected for the integration of the Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO), palletized Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2-ISR) and gun systems onto the Italian Air Force (ITAF) MC-27J multi-mission aircraft. The award represents an important contract for the partnership between ATK and Alenia Aermacchi.

The MC-27J is a modified C-27J Spartan Airlifter that allows customers to execute a wide range of missions including armed gunship, airborne C2-ISR, border surveillance, troop and vehicle transport, personnel evacuation and paratrooper deployment. The MC-27J provides quick transfer speed, long operational range and ample cargo capacity. It is also capable of taking off from and landing on short and/or unprepared strips while acting as an autonomous command and control center integrated with a ground command network.

"The selection of the MC-27J by the Italian Air Force and the fielding of this aircraft recognize the significant capability we have teamed to provide," said Mike Kahn, president of the ATK Defense Group. "Our partnership with Alenia Aermacchi on the MC-27J will give the Italian Air Force an adaptable, agile and affordable multi-mission solution."

"The MC-27J is a strategic development program for Alenia Aermacchi and our partner ATK that we believe is well matched to the current and future asymmetric warfare Air Forces' requirements," said Giuseppe Giordo, Chief Executive Officer of Alenia Aermacchi. "To have been selected by the Italian Air Force and committed to deploying the first aircraft in the operational theatre next spring is a clear confirmation of the MC-27J's capabilities and the industrial development completed to date."

Use of ATK's self-contained RORO mission and weapons systems allow rapid configuration change depending on mission requirements. They are designed for easy embarkation and disembarkation via the aircraft's rear ramp, permitting flexibility in the use of the unaltered aircraft. The suite of sensors and communication system coupled with multiple data links allows the Command and Control pallet to provide improved mission oversight and coordination.

The gun system incorporates ATK's GAU-23 30mm cannon in a side-firing configuration, and is designed to fire numerous types of NATO 30MM X 173 rounds, including the 30MM PGU-46/B munitions. The gun suite will use a simple, automatic feed system in order to minimize crew size and reduce overall operating costs.

ATK and Alenia Aermacchi announced their intent to jointly develop and market the MC-27J multi-mission aircraft at the 2012 Farnborough Air Show. The internally funded test and development program successfully completed its first phase in the spring of 2013. The Italian Air Force is the launch customer for the program.

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally.

Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, is global leader in the design, development, production and integrated support of commercial and military aircraft, trainers, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures.

Nov 11, 2013 ASDNews Source : Alliant Tech Systems, Inc (ATK)

    Under New Production Contract at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant

    Orders Total Approximately $387 Million

ATK has received orders for approximately $387 million for small-caliber rifle ammunition to be produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The orders fall under the plant's new production contract, which began Oct. 1, 2013, and include a mix of 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50-caliber high-quality military ammunition.

In 2012, the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island (ACC-RI) selected ATK to continue production of small-caliber ammunition and operation and maintenance of the Independence, Mo., plant under new contracts. The contracts initially cover the next seven years through FY19, with a potential award term for a total contract term of up to 10 years.

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19/06/2013 Par Guillaume Steuer - air-cosmos.com

C'est le petit "gunship" qui monte : Alenia Aermacchi et ATK, partenaires sur le programme d'avion multi-mission MC-27J, ont profité du salon du Bourget pour exposer l'appareil ayant servi à mener la première phase d'un programme d'essais visant à démontrer la faisabilité d'un "kit de combat" qui peut être rapidement installé sur palette dans le soute du bimoteur de transport C-27J.

Une première phase d'essais autofinancés s'est ainsi achevée au premier semestre 2013. Menés aux Etats-Unis, ceux-ci ont d'abord permis de démontrer qu'il était possible d'installer en un peu plus d'une heure le kit palettisable, composé d'un canon de 30mm dérivé du célèbre GAU-23, d'un boule optronique jour/nuit fournie par Flir Systems et d'une station de contrôle opérateur.

ATK et Alenia ont ensuite conduit des essais de tir du canon afin de valider la bonne séparation des obus et la précision de l'armement. Dans la configuration actuelle, le canon est fixe et sa ligne de visée est asservie au capteur optronique installé sur l'avion.

En novembre prochain, les deux industriels devraient entamer (toujours sur fonds propres) une deuxième phase de réduction de risques. Celle-ci devrait permettre de valider un système de visée plus évolué, dans lequel le canon sera mobile. Une troisième phase est également envisagée, et elle porterait entre autres sur l'intégration d'un armement guidé de précision qui serait tiré depuis la rampe arrière. Mais ATK et Alenia disent espérer bénéficier du soutien d'un client pour financer ces évolutions.

Le programme MC-27J bénéficie déjà d'un soutien en nature de la part du commandement des opérations spéciales de l'US Air Force (AFSOC), qui a mis à disposition certaines de ses installations et moyens d'essais en Floride pour la conduite des premiers essais. L'AFSOC a également "certifié" les performances du MC-27J à l'issue de cette phase de tests, donnant aux partenaires du programme une caution sérieuse face à leurs clients potentiels.

Selon un représentant d'Alenia Aermacchi, le marché potentiel pour le MC-27J est évalué à une cinquantaine d'appareils au cours des 20 prochaines années. L'industriel met en avant non seulement la capacité "armée" de l'avion mais aussi son potentiel multimissions, expliquant que le C-27J pourrait être également vendu dans des versions de renseignement.

July 9, 2012. David Pugliese Defence Watch

Press release from Alenia:

Alenia Aermacchi is pleased to introduce a new version of the C-27J battlefield airlifter, the MC-27J. The MC-27J is a multi-mission, armed, Roll On/Roll Off (RO/RO) derivative of the C-27J Spartan. Alenia Aermacchi and ATK will jointly produce and market this new offering.

The new MC-27J is an adaptable, agile, and affordable solution for various airborne multi-mission requirements that today are performed by a wide variety of aircraft, including special operations versions of the C-130. The MC-27J is not just a gunship, but a battlefield tested platform equipped with proven sensors, communications, and weapons suite able to execute a wide range of customer-driven missions.

The MC-27J is designed to support air forces and Special Forces in performing several key operations, including: anti-terrorism missions, the evacuation of military personnel and civil populations from crisis areas, fighting asymmetrical threats and for all standard operations of the Special Forces. The MC-27J provides Special Forces a platform with quick transfer speed; long operational range and ample cargo capacity (console for the systems’ operators, troops and vehicles).

The MC-27J is capable of taking off from and landing on short and/or unprepared strips while acting as an autonomous command and control centre integrated with the ground command network. The MC-27J will also provide Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) capability as well as the ability to deploy paratroopers. Furthermore, the MC-27J’s target designation and on-board weapons systems provide outstanding support for ground operations.

ATK’s gunship capability is provided from a newly developed palletized weapons system, which is self-contained, modular, scalable and provides RO/RO flexibility. This palletized system integrates sensors, communications and weapons into a responsive and reconfigurable mission package. Specific features for the MC-27J system include enhanced electro-optical/infrared targeting sensors, a trainable 30mm cannon, precision guided munitions, advanced communications and a networked mission management and fire control system.

The MC-27J provides outstanding offensive capability utilizing a palletized weapon system specifically designed for the ATK 30mm GAU-23 cannon and other precision guided weapon systems, resulting in a highly effective system that minimizes collateral damages. The palletized system is designed for easy embarkation and disembarkation via the aircraft’s rear ramp; permitting flexibility in the use of the unaltered aircraft. The primary configuration requires minimal integration on the aircraft’s frame to significantly reduce acquisition costs and development times, while retaining the C-27J’s robust airlift capabilities.

At the core of the MC-27J is the C-27J Spartan, the best-selling battlefield airlifter, offering payload, persistence and out-of-area capabilities coupled with high performance; high maneuverability and the capability to operate on short, unpaved strips. The Spartan is currently the world’s best seller in the tactical airlifter’s category with 89 airplanes ordered by 9 countries all over the world including Italy, United States and recently, Australia.

The MC-27J offer commonality of equipments and systems with larger multi-mission platforms but at much lower operational costs and with the operational flexibility of being able to operate form shorter runways also in hot and high conditions, and as modern and reliable solution for those air forces interested in integrating their forces with a skilled airplane in a very delicate role but at the same time very flexible in its use.