Alliant Techsystems Inc

Alliant Techsystems Inc., the largest maker of rocket motors and small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, said Monday that it agreed to buy satellite-components maker PSI Group to gain more business in space technology. Terms were not disclosed. PSI, based in City of Commerce, has annual sales of about $100 million and about 350 workers. The purchase is expected to close next month, Alliant spokesman Bryce Hallowell said.

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. and Alliant Techsystems Inc., the largest supplier of ammunition and rocket motors to the U.S. military, are developing an anti-artillery weapon for use in Iraq. Century City-based Northrop is providing the fire-control system and leading the development of the U.S. Army program, and Alliant Techsystems is providing the interceptor that destroys the incoming rockets, artillery or mortars, the companies said Thursday. Mortar attacks on U.S.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. Near $412-Million Deal With Hercules: The company's announcement that it expects to reach an agreement Monday to acquire the aerospace operations of Hercules Inc. sent the stocks of both companies soaring. Hercules leaped $8.125 to $115 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Alliant was up $3.25 to $32.75, also on the NYSE. Alliant supplies defense storage systems to the government and other organizations.

Alliant Techsystems Inc., the largest maker of rocket motors and small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, said Monday that it agreed to buy satellite-components maker PSI Group to gain more business in space technology. Terms were not disclosed. PSI, based in City of Commerce, has annual sales of about $100 million and about 350 workers. The purchase is expected to close next month, Alliant spokesman Bryce Hallowell said.

Merger of Ammunition Makers Blocked: The Federal Trade Commission sought a court order to halt the merger of the only two manufacturers of certain types of ammunition used by the Defense Department for the Abrams tank and Apache helicopter. The FTC said Alliant Techsystems Inc.'s acquisition of Olin Corp.'s ordnance division "would substantially reduce competition in the U.S. markets for these types of ammunition." Alliant Techsystems, based in Edina, Minn.

Alcoa Inc., the world's largest producer of aluminum, said it is selling its rocket propulsion systems operation to aerospace and ammunitions company Alliant Techsystems Inc. for $685 million in cash. The sale of the Alcoa unit, Thiokol Propulsion, is expected to close by the end of the second quarter.

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. and Alliant Techsystems Inc., the largest supplier of ammunition and rocket motors to the U.S. military, are developing an anti-artillery weapon for use in Iraq. Century City-based Northrop is providing the fire-control system and leading the development of the U.S. Army program, and Alliant Techsystems is providing the interceptor that destroys the incoming rockets, artillery or mortars, the companies said Thursday. Mortar attacks on U.S.

Hughes Electronics Corp. said Monday that it has agreed to purchase the torpedo and military sonar businesses of Alliant Techsystems Inc. for $141 million in cash. Alliant's Marine Systems Group will be part of the naval and maritime systems division of Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of Los Angeles-based Hughes Electronics, which is owned by General Motors Corp.

Workers voted overwhelmingly Sunday to accept a wage increase and end a weeklong strike at a plant that makes 25-millimeter shells considered critical for the Persian Gulf ground war. Production and maintenance workers at Alliant Techsystems Inc. voted 937 to 116 to accept the 32-month pact, according to Teamsters Local 1145. About 1,300 workers at 10 Alliant plants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area were to return to their jobs Sunday, the union said.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. said Tuesday that it was teaming with UAL Corp.'s United Airlines to compete for a contract to equip U.S. commercial aircraft with missile defense systems. Bids must be submitted by Dec. 8 to the Homeland Security Department, which will move quickly to award a contract to begin supplying the devices to commercial airlines, said Brian Roehrkasse, a department spokesman. An Alliant defense system is in use on 1,100 U.S.

U.S. troops are firing so much ammunition that the military's largest supplier of bullets can't keep up. Tanks that log 800 miles a year in peacetime are grinding through that many miles in a month, wearing out their treads faster. Fighting in Iraq and increased training back home are straining the military's supplies -- and giving manufacturers in the United States a surge in business. Dan Murphy, chief executive of bullet supplier Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. said Tuesday that it was teaming with UAL Corp.'s United Airlines to compete for a contract to equip U.S. commercial aircraft with missile defense systems. Bids must be submitted by Dec. 8 to the Homeland Security Department, which will move quickly to award a contract to begin supplying the devices to commercial airlines, said Brian Roehrkasse, a department spokesman. An Alliant defense system is in use on 1,100 U.S.

When the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, subcontractor Tayco Engineering Inc. in Cypress poured money into developing a heating system that now helps keep the seals on booster rockets from cracking. Tayco won a NASA contract for its systems, and its annual sales eventually jumped by 40%. On Saturday, when Tayco President Jay Chung learned that the shuttle Columbia had disintegrated, the painful news left him with "the same feeling I had when the Challenger blew up."

Alcoa Inc., the world's largest producer of aluminum, said it is selling its rocket propulsion systems operation to aerospace and ammunitions company Alliant Techsystems Inc. for $685 million in cash. The sale of the Alcoa unit, Thiokol Propulsion, is expected to close by the end of the second quarter.

Hughes Electronics Corp. said Monday that it has agreed to purchase the torpedo and military sonar businesses of Alliant Techsystems Inc. for $141 million in cash. Alliant's Marine Systems Group will be part of the naval and maritime systems division of Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of Los Angeles-based Hughes Electronics, which is owned by General Motors Corp.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. Near $412-Million Deal With Hercules: The company's announcement that it expects to reach an agreement Monday to acquire the aerospace operations of Hercules Inc. sent the stocks of both companies soaring. Hercules leaped $8.125 to $115 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Alliant was up $3.25 to $32.75, also on the NYSE. Alliant supplies defense storage systems to the government and other organizations.

When the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, subcontractor Tayco Engineering Inc. in Cypress poured money into developing a heating system that now helps keep the seals on booster rockets from cracking. Tayco won a NASA contract for its systems, and its annual sales eventually jumped by 40%. On Saturday, when Tayco President Jay Chung learned that the shuttle Columbia had disintegrated, the painful news left him with "the same feeling I had when the Challenger blew up."

U.S. troops are firing so much ammunition that the military's largest supplier of bullets can't keep up. Tanks that log 800 miles a year in peacetime are grinding through that many miles in a month, wearing out their treads faster. Fighting in Iraq and increased training back home are straining the military's supplies -- and giving manufacturers in the United States a surge in business. Dan Murphy, chief executive of bullet supplier Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Alliant Techsystems Acquires Aerospace Businesses: The company, one of the nation's largest munitions makers, said it will buy Hercules Inc.'s aerospace businesses for $469 million in cash and stock. The purchase gives Alliant a leading market share of rocket motors used in strategic and tactical weapons systems and will immediately boost earnings.

In an unwelcome message to the defense industry, the government announced the settlement of charges that two major ordnance manufacturers conspired to drive up the price of cluster bombs by eliminating competition. Under a consent decree signed Wednesday, Aerojet of California and Alliant Techsystems of Minnesota agreed to cut the cluster bomb contract price by $12 million and cancel a joint venture the two firms had formed to produce the bombs.