Orbital ATK an Aerospace Firm Has Been Chosen to Run Test on the Takata Airbags

A group of 10 automakers have joined forces to find out the reason behind the faulty Takata airbags. Included in the group are BMW, Subaru, Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Fiat-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Mitsubishi. The group selected former acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the position of project manager to oversee the joint testing. The group chose Orbital ATK to conduct the testing on the faulty inflators. In a joint statement the group said “Orbital ATK is one of the world’s leading engineering firms, and we are confident that their extensive expertise will help speed and advance the ongoing technical investigation of Takata airbag inflators”.

Faulty Takata airbag inflators have been linked to dozens of injuries and at least six deaths. In the U.S. approximately 17 million vehicles have recalled for faulty airbag inflators. The inflators are reportedly exploding with too much force spraying occupants with metal shards. One of the factors being looked into by Orbital ATK is the use of ammonium nitrate for the propellant in the suspected faulty airbags. Orbital ATK is an aerospace and defense contractor with expertise in rocket propulsion systems.