Alliant Techsystems

Some of the more controversial products this corporation produces are cluster bombs and depleted uranium weapons. Cluster bombs can be either air-dropped or ground-launched and are designed to release a number of submunitions which can deliver chemical or biological weapons, scatter land mines, or destroy electric power transmission lines. The dispute over the depleted uranium weapons springs from their detrimental short term and long term impact on the health of the environment and humans. The production of controversial military weapons has led to peace movements and weekly vigils at the ATK headquarters. However, public protests have not slowed business for Alliant Techsystems. The corporation has benefited from the U.S. war against Iraq and was awarded a $92 million dollar contract to make small-caliber ammunition for the army and its stocks soared once the war began. ATK sells about 75% of its gunpowder, smart bombs, tank mines, and rocket propulsion systems and other war-making products to the U.S. Government. In January, 2008 a division of ATK was given a $52.2 million dollar contract to enhance and modernize its production of ammunition. Alliant Techsystems shares rose from $1.71 to $99.87 on January 23, 2008. The company has proposed to purchase Canadian space engineering technology RADARSAT and Canadarm for $1.325-billion. However, peace activists argue the sale threatens to put Canada in breach of the 1997 international landmines treaty. The sale will undergo mandatory review by Industry Canada under the Investment Canada Act, and critics are pleading that the review examine more than merely the economics of the transaction.