Northrop Grumman to Acquire Orbital ATK, ATK was or is the maker of the Alliant Smokless powder products. Not sure if Alliant was separated from ATK when they split off all the sporting goods products a while back...
https://www.space.com/38177-northrop-grumman-acquires-orbital-atk.html?utm_content=bufferd87fb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook (https://www.space.com/38177-northrop-grumman-acquires-orbital-atk.html?utm_content=bufferd87fb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook)
Here was the first splitting off of the sporting goods to Vista Outdoors;
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atk-completes-tax-free-spin-off-of-vista-outdoor-inc-300033100.html (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atk-completes-tax-free-spin-off-of-vista-outdoor-inc-300033100.html)
https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/releaseatk.asp?prid=70 (https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/releaseatk.asp?prid=70)
ATK still operates and runs the Lake city ammo plant for at least another 2-4 years --again, not sure which division though
some more info : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliant_Techsystems
Hopefully, NG doesn't cease making civilian powder.
I think the USA government owns all the powder manufacturing plants and just leases them to the highest bidder. Lake City (LC) is owned by the US government. ATK or Alliant doesn't own their own manufacturing facility. Winchester/IMR/Hodgdon also does not have their own facility.
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NG is probably looking for the Alliant production to compete against General Dynamics who is a major player in the gun powder market. This will give NG another foot in the door for Gov't contracts. GD owns St Marks in Fla and makes a wide variety of the powders we use as well as other branded powders. They make a lot of the Hodgdon powders as does ADI out of Australia. As you probably know, Hodgdon makes nothing, they buy and sell as a middle man. St Marks makes the IMR series as well. Western Powders are out of Miles City and are a privately held company. They make the Accurate Powders in the States and Canada. Their Ramshot line is made in Belgium with the exception of Competition and Silhouette powders which are made in the States. I doubt NG would want to get out of the limited market as it's pretty lucrative especially in keeping the name in front of the Gov't. I see ATK getting out of the business a good thing. They are a profit seeking company and are always looking for ways to jack the price up.