ATk

ATK is an acronym with several distinct meanings across industry and popular culture. The most notable is Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), a U.S. aerospace, defense, and sporting-goods company formed through late 20th-century acquisitions. ATK grew into a major supplier of ammunition, propellants, space components, and related technologies.

In 2015, Alliant Techsystems merged with Orbital Sciences Corporation to form Orbital ATK, a company focused on aerospace, defense systems, and launch vehicles. In 2018, Orbital ATK was acquired by Northrop Grumman and its space systems business was reorganized as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, integrating the former ATK assets into the larger defense and space portfolio.

Beyond corporate uses, ATK is also widely used in gaming and related media as a shorthand for attack or offensive capability. In many role-playing games, strategy titles, and collectible card games, ATK denotes a character’s, unit’s, or item’s potential damage output and is often contrasted with defensive or magical statistics.

Other, less common uses of the acronym may exist in specific industries or organizations, but the two most common associations are the Alliant Techsystems lineage in aerospace/defense and the in-game stat representing attack power. This dual usage can lead to context-dependent interpretation, especially in discussions that mix technology history with gaming terminology.