<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CORDANT
TECHNOLOGIES INC. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1998, 1997, AND 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. DATA REFLECTS TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT PAID AS A STOCK
DIVIDEND, MARCH 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>                <C>              <C>         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS             12-MOS           12-MOS      
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1998        DEC-31-1997      DEC-31-1996 
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-1998        JAN-01-1997      JAN-01-1996 
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-31-1998        DEC-31-1997      DEC-31-1996 
<CASH>                                   45                 46               33 
<SECURITIES>                              0                  0                0 
<RECEIVABLES>                           248                242              132 
<ALLOWANCES>                              8                  6                2 
<INVENTORY>                             252                240               92 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1315                572              288 
<PP&E>                                 1117                927              603 
<DEPRECIATION>                          444                377              314 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         2810               2500              818 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  1220                384              144 
<BONDS>                                 325                326                0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    41                 21               21 
<PREFERRED>                               0                  0                0 
<COMMON>                                  0                  0                0 
<OTHER-SE>                              627                530              459 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>           2810               2500              818 
<SALES>                                2427               1070              865 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                       2440               1112              888 
<CGS>                                  1894                861              718 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                          2118                966              797 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          4                  2                1 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0                  0                0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       28                  4                4 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         289                140               87 
<INCOME-TAX>                            108                 41               26 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     142                 97               61 
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                  0                0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                  7                0 
<CHANGES>                                 0                  0                0 
<NET-INCOME>                            142                 90               61 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          3.89               2.64             1.67 
<EPS-DILUTED>                          3.79               2.57             1.64 
        

</TABLE>