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Show Thiokol contract positive for Utah It's heartening in these times of military cutbacks to note that the northern Utah aerospace company, Thiokol Corp., can still bring home the bacon. Thiokol last week received a $111 million contract for design, development and testing of the Air Force Midgetman, or Small Intercontinental Ballistics Missile's first-stage rocket motor. The Air Force has said it wants to purchase about 600 Midgetman missiles. It means big bucks for Thiokol, up to $194.5 million. The contract for the solid-fuel motor runs through April 15, 1996. An option clause would extend work on the Midgetman motor beyond 1996. The option means an extra $85.3 million for development aimed at production of the 25-foot-long first stage of the Midgetman. Thiokol vice president Tom Honeywell says the major production pro-duction effort represents the Ufeblood of the company's Utah Strategic Operations beyond the year 2000. Designed to be carried on a mobile launch vehicle or based in hardened silos, the Midgetman would carry a single nuclear warhead at least 6,000 miles. Utah is becoming one of the nation's high tech centers, and it is gratifying to see the government's confidence in Thiokol. The future here is clean industry like aerospace and computer software manufacturing, coupled with the state's burgeoning tourist industry. |