For the Cumberland Times-News
ROCKET CENTER, W.Va. — ATK has received a $6.3 million contract from the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., for the production of 555 rocket motors for the AIM-9M Sidewinder missile that is carried on F/A-18E/F aircraft, according to company Marketing Manager Gary Geiger.
The Navy exercised an option to an existing contract for production of the Mk36 Mod 13 motors. Approximately 50 percent of the work will be performed at ATK’s Rocket Center facility, but the entire $6.3 million contract will flow through Allegany Ballistics Laboratory.
The work required to build these units will be performed by the current labor force and ATK does not anticipate the hiring of additional employees to support this effort, Geiger said.
“We are pleased that the Navy has exercised this option for additional Sidewinder rocket motors and are proud to provide this critical component to support our warfighters,” Geiger said.
Work on the contract is expected to be completed by December 2011.
ATK is the largest defense contractor and the fifth largest manufacturer in West Virginia. ATK operates ABL under a lease agreement with the Naval Sea Systems Command.
