Alliant Techsystems [ATK] last week said it has signed a new agreement with Nitrochemie allowing it to be the exclusive North American provider of the Swizterland-based company’s advanced propellant technologies for an unlimited duration.
The the two firms were previously in a distribution agreement that expired after four years.
The agreement covers Extruded Composite Low-sensitivity, Surface Coated Double Base, and R-Type propellants. The R-Type propellants are a new addition to the distribution arrangement and are used in artillery charges and some other applications.
During the original four-year agreement ATK was able to secure a number of research and development contracts with the Department of Defense and commercial customers for the Nitrochemie propellants. That R&D work is ongoing. The Army want’s to make sure that certain propellants will work in their systems before possibly entering production contracts, and ATK official told Defense Daily.
ATK said the propellants enhance performance over a wide range of temperatures and provide “superior” Insensitive Munitions properties that improve safety and survivability, and extend shelf life and aging stability in all types of small, medium and large caliber ammunition.
ATK operates the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia. Nitrochemie is majority owned by Germany’s Rheinmetall.