DEFENSE

Merger of Ammunition Makers Blocked: The Federal Trade Commission sought a court order to halt the merger of the only two manufacturers of certain types of ammunition used by the Defense Department for the Abrams tank and Apache helicopter. The FTC said Alliant Techsystems Inc.’s acquisition of Olin Corp.’s ordnance division “would substantially reduce competition in the U.S. markets for these types of ammunition.” Alliant Techsystems, based in Edina, Minn., is a public company and the largest manufacturer of tank ammunition and medium-caliber ammo in the country. Olin, based in Stamford, Conn., is also publicly owned and is a diversified manufacturer of chemicals, metals, ammunition and defense-related products. A hearing date was set for Nov. 16.