U.S. SBA Selects AARGM as Recipient of Innovative Research Award
DULLES, Va.Jul. 6, 2015--
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, announced today that it was chosen by the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) as one of the 2015 Tibbetts award winners
for the 2015 Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Award. This award
places the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in a class of
innovative products and recognizes it as one of the most significant
achievements produced by the SBA s SBIR program.
The 2015 Tibbetts Small Business Innovative Research Award was presented to Orbital ATK for its AARGM program. On hand for the presentation were: (from left to right) Maria Contreras-Sweet, U.S. S.B.A. Administrator; Gordon Turner, Orbital ATK Vice President Strike Weapons; Mike Kahn, Orbital ATK President Defense Systems Group; and Javier Saade, U.S. S.B.A. Associate Administrator. (Photo: Business Wire)
Orbital ATK was chosen as recipient of this award for its work on the
AARGM missile, a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system,
upgrading legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced sensors and
algorithms. AARGM provides the capability required by U.S. and allied
aircrews against modern surface-to-air threats.
This award is a tremendous honor for the AARGM team and Orbital ATK,
said Mike Kahn, president of the Orbital ATK Defense Systems Group. The
AARGM program is an excellent example of how partnering between
industry, the U.S. Navy and SBA can leverage the innovation and
technology generated by small businesses and the SBIR program to provide
the affordable and effective solutions needed by the warfighter.
The AARGM program began with the original Phase I SBIR award to Science
and Applied Technologies (SAT), which was subsequently awarded Phase II
and III awards. In 2002, SAT became a part of Orbital ATK s predecessor
company, Alliant Techsystems. The company was awarded System Development
and Demonstration and production phase contracts for AARGM, yielding the
fielded product and a major SBIR success story, as acknowledged by the
Tibbetts award.
AARGM is a cooperative program with U.S. Navy and the Italian Air Force
and is an ACAT-I major defense acquisition program. AARGM is currently
fielded and compatible with F/A-18A-F, EA-18G and the Italian Air
Force's Tornado ECR aircraft.
Orbital ATK s Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in providing
innovative and affordable ammunition, precision and strike weapons,
electronic warfare systems, and missile components across air-, sea-,
and land-based systems.
About the Tibbetts Awards
The Tibbetts awards are presented annually to those who are beacons of
promise and models of excellence in high-technology. Winners are
selected based on the economic impact of their technological innovation,
and the extent to which that innovation served federal R&D needs,
encouraged diverse participation and increased the commercialization of
federal research. The Tibbetts Awards are given to small businesses and
individuals judged to exemplify the best in the SBIR program. The award
is named for Roland Tibbetts, acknowledged as the father of the Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, and is presented to
companies and individuals that promote the mission and goals of the SBIR
Program:
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to stimulate technological innovation
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to use small business to meet federal research and development needs
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to encourage diverse participation in technological innovation
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to increase commercialization of Federal research
About the SBA
Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps
Americans to start, grow and succeed with their own companies. The
Administration s mission is described as the three C's: facilitating
access to capital, providing counseling, and ensuring emerging
businesses receive a quarter of Federal contract dollars.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.
The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation
systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and
merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related
propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense
electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition;
satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced
aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK
employs more than 12,000 people in 20 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.
Source: Orbital ATK
Media Contact:
Orbital ATK
Bryan Kidder, 410-864-4932
Defense
Systems Group Communications
bryan.kidder@orbitalatk.com
or
Investor
Contact:
Orbital ATK
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public
& Investor Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com