CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011
Sales	$ 1,117,484	$ 1,129,290	$ 3,302,157	$ 3,540,676
Cost of sales	871,680	896,490	2,549,873	2,804,521
Gross profit	245,804	232,800	752,284	736,155
Operating expenses:
Research and development	14,624	12,733	41,711	42,388
Selling	39,989	39,011	121,421	118,262
General and administrative	85,767	54,628	205,781	181,666
Income before interest, income taxes, and noncontrolling interest	105,424	126,428	383,371	393,839
Interest expense	(19,783)	(25,234)	(69,933)	(63,278)
Interest income	203	190	431	318
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	85,844	101,384	313,869	330,879
Income tax provision	36,085	31,108	112,308	88,440
Net income	49,759	70,276	201,561	242,439
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	74	95	368	367
Net income attributable to Alliant Techsystems Inc.	$ 49,685	$ 70,181	$ 201,193	$ 242,072
Alliant Techsystems Inc.'s earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.52	$ 2.11	$ 6.10	$ 7.28
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.51	$ 2.09	$ 6.06	$ 7.21
Alliant Techsystems Inc.'s weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	32,781	33,320	32,966	33,267
Diluted (in shares)	32,955	33,625	33,181	33,586