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Utah Aerospace Company Snags $488M Contract

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An aerospace company in northern Utah that manufactured parts for space shuttles has snagged a $488 million contract for small caliber ammunition.

ATK Armament Systems says this week it will supply the U.S. Army Contracting Command with a mix of 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50-caliber military ammunition.

The Minnesota-based ATK has reduced its workforce in Utah by almost 2,000 people since 2009, when NASA's space shuttle program was discontinued. That is nearly half the company's Utah workforce.

The company was hurt by the end of the space shuttle program. But ATK officials say they continue to work on a rocket motor for future space vehicles and have a contract with the European Space Agency.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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