The $225 million contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Mission Systems that is serving as the prime contractor for the Minuteman III system upgrade. But ATK/Thiokol, as the subcontractor supplying the missile motors, will receive the bulk of the two-year contract's revenue - about $194 million.

"We've been the primary supplier of the Minuteman propulsion system for just about forever," ATK/Thiokol spokesman George Torres said, noting the missiles originally were built and deployed in the 1960s at the height of the Cold War. "This new contract will extend the life of the Minuteman system well into the 21st century."

Under the contract, ATK/Thiokol will provide first-, second- and third-stage motors for 212 missiles, with completion required by March 2008. The company is in the midst of upgrading the motors for another 288 Minuteman missiles under earlier contracts.

The work will be split between ATK/Thiokol's Bacchus Works plants in West Valley City and its Promontory plant just west of Brigham City. ATK/Thiokol has about 600 people - 350 at Promontory and 250 at the Bacchus Works - working on the Minuteman project.

And Torres noted there are other contract options that could become available that may ensure the company's Minuteman work will continue past 2008.

Although 2005's figures are not tabulated, defense spending was expected to have at least matched 2004's $3.2 billion because of continuing geopolitical tensions.