ATK,
Will Assess for Minotaur Replacement Options
MINNEAPOLIS: Alliant Techsystems has been selected to support the U.S. Air Force's Conventional Ballistic Missile Prompt Global Strike (PGS) efforts. The company will conduct a study to evaluate options for replacing the Minotaur booster.
The study effort is focused on identifying candidates to replace the Minotaur boosters that draw on a family of motors concept to reduce total system cost. Evaluation of the options includes associated cost, risk and schedule. The objective of the study is to provide affordable and executable options to transition the Minotaur replacement motors in support of the PGS missions.
“Since the Minotaur is based on 20-year old excess Peacekeeper ICBM assets, the key to the study is to assess how long those assets can be reliable and when they can be replaced with current booster stages that are in production or advanced development,” said Charlie Precourt, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for ATK Launch Systems Group. “ATK is uniquely qualified to conduct this study because we have designed, developed, manufactured and tested numerous strategic missile motors, and we provide operational support, conduct aging and surveillance (A&S), and demilitarize these motors. In addition, ATK has the largest catalog of existing and development motors to draw on for this study.”
ATK's past history, current designs and existing tools in solid propulsion provide a comprehensive database to identify the best candidates to replace the Peacekeeper SR-118, SR-119 and SR-120 motors using existing motors in support of the PGS mission.
ATK has been involved in strategic solid propulsion life cycle operations for over 50 years. The company designed, developed and produced motors for the Air Force, Army, Navy and NASA, including: Minuteman, Peacekeeper, Small Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Pershing II, Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM) and space shuttle solid rocket boosters. Specifically on the Minotaur, ATK designed, manufactured and provides aging and surveillance support for the SR-118 and SR-120 motors, and provides aging and surveillance support for the SR-119 motors.
