Orbital ATK

{{Infobox company

| name = Orbital ATK Inc.

| logo = Logo for Orbital ATK.svg

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{NYSE was|OA}}

| industry = Aerospace, Defense

| fate = Acquired by Northrop Grumman

| predecessors = {{ubl|Alliant Techsystems|Orbital Sciences Corporation}}

| founded = {{start date|2015|02|09}}

| defunct = {{end date|2018|06|06}}

| hq_location_city = Dulles, Virginia

| hq_location_country = United States

| key_people = David W. Thompson (President and CEO)

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|1,348 million|link=yes}}

| revenue_year = 2017

| net_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|61.2 million}}

| net_income_year = 2017

| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|2,542 million}}

| assets_year = 2017

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|2,045 million}}

| equity_year = 2017

| num_employees = 13,900

| num_employees_year = 2017

| homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20180325151707/http://www.orbitalatk.com orbitalatk.com] (Archived)

| footnotes = Financials {{as of|2017|12|31|df=US|lc=y}} (final fiscal year end)
References:{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2018 |title=Annual report Form 10-K 2017 Orbital ATK Inc. |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/866121/000086612118000014/oa-1231201710xk.htm |access-date=June 24, 2024}}

}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Aitoro |first=Jill R. |date=April 29, 2014 |title=Why the merger of ATK and Orbital Sciences makes sense |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2014/04/why-the-merger-of-atk-and-orbital-sciences-makes.html?page=all |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |access-date=February 19, 2015 |work=Washington Business Journal}} The deal officially closed on February 9, 2015. ATK's sporting-goods division spun off to form Vista Outdoor on the same day.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=February 10, 2015 |title=Orbital ATK, Merger of Orbital Sciences and ATK, Begins Operations |url=http://www.space.com/28515-orbital-atk-merger-private-spaceflight.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419172604/https://www.space.com/28515-orbital-atk-merger-private-spaceflight.html |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |access-date=February 19, 2015 |website=Space.com}}

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.{{Cite press release |title=Northrop Grumman to Acquire Orbital ATK for $9.2 Billion |date=September 18, 2017 |publisher=Northrop Grumman Corporation |location=Falls Church and Dulles, Virginia |url=https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/publications/files/NG_PR.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143225/https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/publications/files/NG_PR.pdf |archive-date=January 27, 2018}} Orbital ATK shareholders approved the buyout on November 29, 2017.{{Cite press release |title=Orbital ATK Shareholders Vote to Approve Acquisition by Northrop Grumman |date=November 29, 2017 |publisher=Northrop Grumman Corporation |location=Falls Church, Virginia |url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/orbital-atk-shareholders-vote-to-approve-acquisition-by-northrop-grumman |access-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140535/https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/orbital-atk-shareholders-vote-to-approve-acquisition-by-northrop-grumman |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |website=news.northropgrumman.com}} 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.{{Cite press release |title=FTC Imposes Conditions on Northrop Grumman's Acquisition of Solid Rocket Motor Supplier Orbital ATK, Inc. |date=June 5, 2018 |publisher=Federal Trade Commission |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/06/ftc-imposes-conditions-northrop-grummans-acquisition-solid-rocket |access-date=June 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142517/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/06/ftc-imposes-conditions-northrop-grummans-acquisition-solid-rocket |archive-date=June 12, 2018}} {{PD-notice}}{{Cite news |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=June 5, 2018 |title=Acquisition of Orbital ATK approved, company renamed Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems |url=http://spacenews.com/acquisition-of-orbital-atk-approved-company-renamed-northrop-grumman-innovation-systems/ |access-date=July 23, 2018 |work=SpaceNews}}

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.{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2019 |title=Northrop launches new divisions focused on space, cyber, unmanned tech |url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2019/09/20/northrop-launches-new-divisions-focused-on-space-cyber-unmanned-tech/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190923153156/https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2019/09/20/northrop-launches-new-divisions-focused-on-space-cyber-unmanned-tech/ |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2020}}

Organization

= Flight Systems Group =

Based in Chandler, Arizona, the Flight Systems Group includes the Pegasus, Minotaur, and Antares launch vehicles as well as solid-propulsion and aerostructures programs.{{Cite news |last=Berger, Brian |date=February 12, 2015 |title=Orbital ATK Org Charts Detail the Newly Merged Company |url=http://spacenews.com/orbital-atk-org-charts-detail-the-newly-merged-company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150213031803/http://spacenews.com/orbital-atk-org-charts-detail-the-newly-merged-company/ |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |access-date=February 19, 2015 |work=SpaceNews}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Orbital ATK |url=http://www.orbitalatk.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601010814/http://www.orbitalatk.com/ |archive-date=June 1, 2018 |access-date=August 23, 2020 |website=www.orbitalatk.com}} 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 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. 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.

Products

= Rockets =

File:Antares Orb-2 launch from Wallops (201407130015HQ).jpg launches the Orb-2 mission.]]

Antares, two- or three-stage medium-lift expendable launch vehicle
Minotaur I, four-stage small-lift expendable launch vehicle
Minotaur IV, four-stage small-lift expendable launch vehicle
Minotaur V, five-stage launch vehicle used for geosynchronous transfer orbits and trans-lunar orbits
Minotaur VI, five-stage medium-lift expendable launch vehicle
Minotaur-C, four-stage small-lift expendable launch vehicle
Pegasus, air-launched four-stage small-lift launch vehicle
OmegA, A cancelled medium to heavy lift launch vehicle.

= Rocket engines =

File:GEM 40 at SLC-2 for OCO-2.png

GEM-40, solid rocket booster used on the Delta II rocket
GEM-60, solid rocket booster used on the Delta IV rocket
GEM-63, solid rocket booster used on the Atlas V rocket
GEM-63XL, solid rocket booster planned to be used on the Vulcan rocket
Castor 4, solid rocket used on the Maxus sounding rocket
Castor 30, solid rocket used on the Antares rocket
Castor 120, solid rocket used on the Minotaur-C rocket
Space Launch System Solid Rocket Booster, based on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster

= Spacecraft =

File:ISS-45 Cygnus 5 approaching the ISS - crop.jpg transporting cargo to the ISS on behalf of NASA.]]

Al Yah 3, communications satellite for Al Yah Satellite Communications
HYLAS-4, communications satellite for Avanti Communications
SES-16, communications satellite for SES S.A.
Landsat 9, environmental satellite for NASA and United States Geological Survey (USGS)
JPSS-2, weather and environmental satellite for NASA and NOAA
ICESat-2, ice-topography satellite for NASA
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), space telescope for NASA
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICE), science mission for NASA
Cygnus, automated cargo spacecraft to supply the ISS
Dawn, space probe for NASA currently in decaying orbit around Ceres

= Munitions =

Mk310 PABM-T air burst rounds for MK44.{{Cite web |title=30mm & 20mm x 173mm Munition System |url=https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/small-caliber-systems/30-20mmx173mm/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702235536/https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/small-caliber-systems/30-20mmx173mm |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |website=www.orbitalatk.com}}{{Cite web |title=Brochure |url=https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/small-caliber-systems/30-20mmx173mm/docs/30-20x173_Fact_Sheet.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329035326/https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/small-caliber-systems/30-20mmx173mm/docs/30-20x173_Fact_Sheet.pdf |archive-date=March 29, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |website=orbitalatk.com}}