Orbital ATK explained

Orbital ATK Inc.
Type:Public
Industry:Aerospace, Defense
Fate:Acquired by Northrop Grumman
Hq Location City:Dulles, Virginia
Hq Location Country:United States
Key People:David W. Thompson (President and CEO)
Revenue Year:2017
Net Income Year:2017
Assets Year:2017
Equity Year:2017
Num Employees:13,900
Num Employees Year:2017
Homepage:orbitalatk.com (Archived)
Footnotes:Financials (final fiscal year end)
References:[1]

Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9, 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed, built, and delivered rocket engines, military vehicles, firearms, autocannons, missiles, ammunition, precision-guided munitions, satellites, missile approach warning systems, launch vehicles and spacecraft. The company was acquired by Northrop Grumman on June 6, 2018. The former Orbital ATK operations were renamed Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems and operated as a division until January 1, 2020 when a reorganization merged the operations into the company's other divisions.

History

A merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and the defense and aerospace divisions of Alliant Techsystems (ATK) was announced on April 29, 2014. The two companies had collaborated on several previous projects, including the use of 400 ATK rocket motors in Orbital's launch vehicles.[2] The deal officially closed on February 9, 2015. ATK's sporting-goods division spun off to form Vista Outdoor on the same day.[3]

On September 18, 2017, Northrop Grumman announced plans to purchase Orbital ATK for US$7.8 billion in cash plus assumption of US$1.4 billion in debt.[4] Orbital ATK shareholders approved the buyout on November 29, 2017.[5] The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the acquisition with conditions on June 5, 2018, and on June 6, 2018, Orbital ATK was renamed Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.[6] [7]

With Northrop Grumman's reorganization of its divisions effective January 1, 2020, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems was split, with most of the sector merging with other Northrop Grumman businesses into a new Space Systems sector.[8]

Organization

Flight Systems Group

Based in Chandler, Arizona,[3] the Flight Systems Group includes the Pegasus, Minotaur, and Antares launch vehicles as well as solid-propulsion and aerostructures programs.[9] The company also operates a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar wide body jetliner, which is named Stargazer and is used to air launch Pegasus rockets carrying payloads into space.[10] The Stargazer aircraft is also used for testing under specific programs. The Flight Systems Group became part of Northrop Grumman Space Systems on January 1, 2020.

Defense Systems Group

The Defense Systems Group, based in the Baltimore, Maryland[3] area, produces tactical missiles, defense electronics, and medium- and large-caliber ammunition. The division also produces fuzing and warheads for both tactical missiles and munitions; precision metal and composite structures for medium and large-caliber ammunition, military aircraft, ground vehicles, and missile systems; load, assembly, and pack (LAP) of medium caliber munitions; and propellants and powders for the canister and commercial markets. The Defense Systems Group became part of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems on January 1, 2020.

Space Systems Group

Orbital ATK's Space Systems Group provides satellites for commercial, scientific, and security purposes.[9] This group also produces the Cygnus spacecraft, which delivers cargo to the International Space Station. The group was based at the company's headquarters on Warp Drive in Dulles, Virginia.[3]

Products

Rockets

Rocket engines

Spacecraft

Munitions

Firearms

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: February 21, 2018 . Annual report Form 10-K 2017 Orbital ATK Inc. . June 24, 2024.
  2. News: Aitoro . Jill R. . April 29, 2014 . Why the merger of ATK and Orbital Sciences makes sense . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220023916/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2014/04/why-the-merger-of-atk-and-orbital-sciences-makes.html?page=all . February 20, 2015 . February 19, 2015 . Washington Business Journal.
  3. Web site: Wall . Mike . February 10, 2015 . Orbital ATK, Merger of Orbital Sciences and ATK, Begins Operations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190419172604/https://www.space.com/28515-orbital-atk-merger-private-spaceflight.html . April 19, 2019 . February 19, 2015 . Space.com.
  4. Northrop Grumman to Acquire Orbital ATK for $9.2 Billion . September 18, 2017 . Northrop Grumman Corporation . Falls Church and Dulles, Virginia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143225/https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/publications/files/NG_PR.pdf . January 27, 2018.
  5. Orbital ATK Shareholders Vote to Approve Acquisition by Northrop Grumman . November 29, 2017 . Northrop Grumman Corporation . Falls Church, Virginia . July 23, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140535/https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/orbital-atk-shareholders-vote-to-approve-acquisition-by-northrop-grumman . June 12, 2018 . news.northropgrumman.com.
  6. FTC Imposes Conditions on Northrop Grumman's Acquisition of Solid Rocket Motor Supplier Orbital ATK, Inc. . June 5, 2018 . Federal Trade Commission . June 6, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142517/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/06/ftc-imposes-conditions-northrop-grummans-acquisition-solid-rocket . June 12, 2018.
  7. News: Erwin . Sandra . June 5, 2018 . Acquisition of Orbital ATK approved, company renamed Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems . July 23, 2018 . SpaceNews.
  8. Web site: September 20, 2019 . Northrop launches new divisions focused on space, cyber, unmanned tech . live . https://archive.today/20190923153156/https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2019/09/20/northrop-launches-new-divisions-focused-on-space-cyber-unmanned-tech/ . September 23, 2019 . April 17, 2020.
  9. News: Berger, Brian . February 12, 2015 . Orbital ATK Org Charts Detail the Newly Merged Company . live . https://archive.today/20150213031803/http://spacenews.com/orbital-atk-org-charts-detail-the-newly-merged-company/ . February 13, 2015 . February 19, 2015 . SpaceNews.
  10. Web site: Orbital ATK . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180601010814/http://www.orbitalatk.com/ . June 1, 2018 . August 23, 2020 . www.orbitalatk.com.
  11. Web site: 30mm & 20mm x 173mm Munition System . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170702235536/https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/small-caliber-systems/30-20mmx173mm . July 2, 2017 . November 28, 2017 . www.orbitalatk.com.
  12. Web site: Brochure . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170329035326/https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/small-caliber-systems/30-20mmx173mm/docs/30-20x173_Fact_Sheet.pdf . March 29, 2017 . November 28, 2017 . orbitalatk.com.