Long-Term Strategic Partnership Enables Improved Efficiencies,
Performance and Significant Cost Savings for Customers
CENTENNIAL, Colo. & DULLES, Va.Sep. 22, 2015--
Today United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Orbital ATK, Inc. (NYSE: OA)
announced a long-term strategic partnership in which Orbital ATK will
become the sole provider of solid rocket boosters for ULA s Atlas V and
Vulcan launch vehicles, effective in 2019 when the new motors are ready
for launch.
As ULA transforms the space lift industry, strong partners such as
Orbital ATK are critical to reducing cost, introducing cutting-edge
innovation and continuing our focus on mission success, said Tory
Bruno, ULA s president and CEO. We have relied for decades on Orbital
ATK s industry leading rocket motor technology, which is ideally suited
to support our future rocket launch plans.
Under this partnership, Orbital ATK is investing in the design,
development and qualification of two new rocket motors with design
similarities to each other that leverage the company s proven solid
motor technology. These motors will significantly lower the price to ULA
and to the U.S. government. They will be used to support launches of
ULA s Atlas V and Vulcan vehicles and will also be commercially
available to support other customers.
With this strategic partnership, ULA and Orbital ATK will offer
customers better value and reliable access to space, said David W.
Thompson, president and CEO of Orbital ATK. The capabilities and
technology of the newly-merged Orbital ATK enabled us to expand the
partnership with ULA to help lower costs and maintain the highest
standards of mission assurance.
Development of the new solid rocket boosters will commence immediately
to support their introduction on ULA s Atlas V vehicle in late 2018 and
on ULA s Vulcan vehicle in mid-2019. Vulcan, ULA s next generation
launch vehicle, is anticipated to transform the future of space launch
for the government and commercial market, making it more affordable,
accessible and commercially available.
Our ability to deliver critical national security, scientific and
commercial satellites into the correct orbit for each mission is filled
with risks and challenges, and ULA has delivered every time, said
Bruno. This reliability will continue as we develop the right vehicle
with the right team.
The new solid motor booster agreement expands the long-term relationship
between ULA and Orbital ATK that already includes the supply of
composite structures, nozzles, propellant tanks and booster separation
motors for the current versions of Delta IV and Atlas V rockets. In
addition, ULA will supply two Atlas rockets to provide launch services
for Orbital ATK s Cygnus spacecraft on cargo delivery missions to the
International Space Station for NASA in late 2015 and early 2016.
Orbital ATK is also developing a fully integrated third stage to launch
NASA s Solar Probe Plus mission on ULA s Delta IV Heavy rocket in 2018.
ULA has a strong heritage in providing reliable space access for
government and commercial entitles under the Evolved Expendable Launch
Vehicle (EELV) program. The EELV program was established by the United
States Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of
Defense and other government payloads. The company recently marked the 99th
successful one-at-a-time launch since the company was formed in December
2006.
About ULA
With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is
the nation s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA
has successfully delivered more than 95 satellites to orbit that provide
critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in
tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and
unlock the mysteries of our solar system.
For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com,
or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the
conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch,
twitter.com/ulalaunch
and instagram.com/ulalaunch.
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 18 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com
or follow the company at twitter.com/orbitalatk
and facebook.com/orbitalatk.

Source: Orbital ATK, Inc.
ULA media contact:
Jessica Rye, 321-730-5646 (Office)
321-693-6250
(Cell)
jessica.f.rye@ulalaunch.com
or
Orbital
ATK media contact:
Jennifer Bowman, 435-863-4809 (Office)
435-279-3159
(Cell)
jennifer.bowman@orbitalatk.com
or
Orbital
ATK investor contact:
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com