After a successful merger between Orbital Sciences Corp. and Alliant Techsystems in 2015 to create Orbital ATK Inc., the new company recently celebrated its one-year anniversary -- the birth of a $4.5 billion space, defense and aviation systems manufacturer, with approximately 12,000 employees in 18 states.
Orbital ATK President and CEO David Thompson was enthusiastic about the success the company has had since the merger, praising the history of the two separate companies and how two powerful and talented forces came together to create a company with new products that conducts work with greater efficiency -- good news for shareholders. All in all, the company saw record orders over the past year and was more than appreciative of employees' hard work and its customers' support.
"Our customers, shareholders and employees are already seeing tremendous value in the new Orbital ATK,” Thompson said. “The merger combined the leading space and launch systems integration know-how of Orbital with the world-class product development and manufacturing capabilities of ATK’s aerospace and defense businesses.”
Orbital ATK's three operating groups all saw major accomplishments in the last year.
The Defense Systems Group (DSG) saw the opening of two new international offices in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, accounting for 25 percent of its revenue. The group also constructed nearly 200 advanced tactical missiles and 1.4 million rocket motors, warheads and fuses, alongside a few thousand medium-caliber guns and precision guidance tools, producing 1.1 billion rounds of ammunition.
The Flight Systems Group (FSG) worked closely with the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Missile Defense Agency, NASA and the Department of Defense, carrying out 14 successful rocket launches and building important composite structures for the military, as well as commercial aircraft. FSG also worked to help facilitate the return of the Antares rocket this year, as well as making and delivering approximately 70 rocket motors.
The Space Systems Group (SSG) worked closely with NASA as well, launching 27 scientific research rockets and balloon flights. It also produced products for both commercial and government groups, with the production of 800 space-component and subsystems. SSG also resumed cargo-delivery missions to the International Space Station, utilizing its Cygnus spacecraft. Furthermore, SSG also built five satellites and received requests for 20 more spacecraft.
Orbital ATK completed 95 percent of its 1,350 goals, which included items from before the merger and afterward. To continue its success, Orbital ATK Chief Operating Officer Blake Larson said that in 2016, it will continue to direct its energy toward even better operations and customer service, both of which will bring success for years to come.
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