Exhibit 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:                      INVESTOR CONTACT:

ROD BITZ                            RICHARD N. JOWETT
PHONE:  612-931-5413          PHONE:  612-931-6080
E-MAIL: ROD_BITZ@ATK.COM                   E-MAIL: RICHARD_JOWETT@ATK.COM

                    ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                 APPROVES AMENDMENT TO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
                                        
     MINNEAPOLIS, MARCH 18, 1999 - Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) said its
board of directors has approved an amendment to the company's stockholder rights
plan that will increase the exercise price for the rights issued pursuant to the
plan.

     The stockholder rights plan, which was originally adopted in September
1990, provides stockholders the right to purchase in certain circumstances a
fractional share of preferred stock, subject to adjustment.  The exercise price
per right was established at $80, based upon prevailing market prices at the
time the plan was adopted.  The amendment to the plan, which was approved
unanimously by the board of directors, increases the exercise price to $120 in
recognition of the substantial increase in the company's stock price since the
plan was adopted.  No other significant amendments were made to the plan, and
the rights currently cannot be exercised.

     Paul Miller, chairman and chief executive officer, said the action was
taken after careful study, and is not in response to any pending takeover or
proposed change in control of the company.

     "Since 1990, the market price of Alliant's common shares has increased
significantly, and further increases may impair the effectiveness of the
stockholder rights plan," said Miller.  "The board of directors believes that
this amendment is appropriate to continue to protect the company and its
stockholders from potentially coercive takeover practices or takeover bids that
are inconsistent with the interests of the company and its stockholders."

     Alliant Techsystems is a $1.1 billion aerospace and defense company with
approximately 6,300 employees.  Headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., the company's
business groups are Conventional Munitions, Space and Strategic Systems, and
Defense Systems.  Company news and information can be found on the Internet at
www.atk.com.

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