 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace anddefense |
| Predecessor | |
| Founded | June 29, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-06-29) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Florida, United States |
Key people | Chris Kubasik (chair andCEO) |
| Revenue |  US$21.3 billion (2024) |
| US$1.92 billion (2024) | |
| US$1.50 billion (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$42.0 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$19.5 billion (2024) |
Number of employees | 47,000 (2025) |
| Website | l3harris |
| Footnotes / references [1][2] | |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is an Americantechnology company,defense contractor, andinformation technologyservices provider that produces products forcommand and control systems,wireless equipment, tactical radios,avionics and electronic systems,night vision equipment,intelligence,surveillance andreconnaissance (C3ISR) systems and products,ocean systems,instrumentation,navigation products, training devices and services, and both terrestrial/spaceborneantennas for use in the government, defense, and commercial sectors.
The company was formed from the merger ofL3 Technologies andHarris Corporation on June 29, 2019,[3] which made it thesixth-largest defense contractor in the United States.[4][5][6]
The "Harris Automatic Press Company" was founded by Alfred S. Harris inNiles, Ohio, in 1895. The company spent the next 60 years developinglithographic processes andprinting presses before acquiringtypesetting companyIntertype Corporation. In 1967, they merged with Radiation, Inc. ofMelbourne, Florida, a developer of antenna,integrated circuit, andmodem technology used in thespace race. The company headquarters was moved from Cleveland to Melbourne in 1978.[7][8] In May 2015, Harris finalized the purchase of competitorExelis Inc., almost doubling the size of the original company.[9]
L-3 Communications was formed in 1997 to acquire certain business units fromLockheed Martin that had previously been part ofLoral Corporation. These units had belonged toLockheed Corporation andMartin Marietta, which had merged three years before in 1993.[10] The company was founded by, and named for, Frank Lanza and Robert LaPenta in partnership withLehman Brothers. Lanza and LaPenta had both served as executives at Loral and Lockheed.[11] The company continued to expand throughmergers and acquisitions to become one of the top ten U.S. government contractors.[12] At the end of 2016, the company changed its name from L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. to L3 Technologies, Inc. to better reflect the company's wider focus since its founding in 1997.[13]
Between 1999 and August 2021, L3Harris and predecessors spent $131.9 millionlobbying forICE radio procurement ($20,000),[14] theIntelligence Authorization Act ($1,510,000),[15]DHS fund appropriations for unmanned vehicles ($430,000),[16] andnight vision systems research ($20,000).[17][18]
In 2008, 72 Iraqi civilians sued L3 Services andCACI for human rights violations including "torture; cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; war crimes; assault and battery; sexual assault and battery; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligent hiring and supervision; and negligent infliction of emotional distress." A settlement was reached on October 10, 2012, which was the "first positive resolution to a U.S. civil case challenging detainee treatment outside the United States in the larger 'war on terror' context".[19]
In 2012, L3 subsidiary KDI Precision Products participated in the sale of 11,500JDAM bomb fuzes to Israel, part of a $647 million contract deal.[20] These were among the weapons used by theIDF in the2014 Gaza War; after the use of weapons in densely populated civilian areas, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted the IDF's weapons usages as constituting potential war crimes.[21][22]
In October 2018, Harris and L3 announced an all-stock "merger of equals". As part of that deal, Harris was required to sell its night vision division. The reasoning was that a merger of Harris and L3's night vision departments would create an effective monopoly on the night vision industry.[23] The merger was completed in June 2019. The new company, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., is based in Melbourne, Florida, where Harris was headquartered.[3] The new company was led by former Harris CEOWilliam M. Brown as theChairman andCEO, with former L3 CEO as thePresident andCOO.[3] In June 2021, Brown turned over the role of CEO toChris Kubasik, retaining the title ofExecutive Chair, and Kubasik adding the title ofVice Chair.[24]
Between 2006 and July 2021, L3Harris was awarded 136U.S. Customs and Border Protection andImmigration and Customs Enforcement contracts totalling $308.2 million, "as well as six blanket purchase orders potentially worth up to $6 billion".[18][25]
In 2018, L3Harris acquired two Australianzero-day exploit development companies, Azimuth Security and Linchpin Labs, which were merged as Trenchant.[26] The two companies are reportedly suppliers of zero-day exploits for theFive Eyes and theFederal Bureau of Investigation.[27][28]
In 2019, L3Harris paid $13 million to settle allegations that Harris, before the merger, violated Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations regulations.[29] According to a proposed charging letter[30] Harris Corporation violated AECA (22U.S.C.2751 et seq.) and ITAR (22 CFR parts 120–131) for a total of 131 separate violations.
In January 2022, L3Harris reorganized its business structure, eliminating the Aviation Systems business segment and distributing its divisions between the remaining three Integrated Mission Systems, Space & Airborne Systems, and Communications Systems segments.[31]
In June 2022, Chris Kubasik succeeded as the Chair following Bill Brown's retirement.[32]
In June 2022, it was reported to have held talks to purchase the Israeli companyNSO, which buildsPegasus spyware.[33] White House officials heard of the talks and voiced opposition, resulting in L3Harris discontinuing its plans.[28]
In December 2022, L3Harris agreed to buyAerojet Rocketdyne Holdings for $4.7 billion in cash.[34] The acquisition was completed on 28 July 2023.[35]
In October 2025, Israel entered into a memorandum of understanding with the US defense contractor L3Harris to facilitate the acquisition of new light attack aircraft intended for border defense, aimed at developing the Israeli Sky Warden variant.[36]
In January 2026, L3Harris agreed to sell a majority stake in the Aerojet Rocketdyne "Space Propulsion and Power Systems" sector toAE Industrial Partners, who willspin off the business under the name "Rocketdyne". The deal includes theRL-10 upper stage engine used on theVulcan rocket, but not theRS-25 engine used by theSpace Launch System.[37][38] The remaining Missile Solutions business is planned to undergo anIPO as a new company, with L3Harris retaining controlling ownership and the US Government investing $1 billion. Both transactions are expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.[39][40]
As of 2026[update], L3Harris is organized under three business segments: Space & Mission Systems, Communications and Spectrum Dominance, and Missile Solutions.[38] It is led by a 13-member board of directors, including chair and CEO Chris Kubasik.[3][32]
Space and Mission Systems specializes in space mission, payloads, and sensors forsatellite navigation, ISR,weather, andmissile defense; ground systems for spacecommand and control and tracking; optical and wireless networking forsituational awareness andair traffic management; defense avionics; andelectronic warfare countermeasures;intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) andsignals intelligence systems; electrical and electronic systems for maritime use; electro-optical systems including infrared, laser imaging, and targeting systems; defense aviation systems including weapons systems andUAVs; andcommercial aviation services including the L3Harris Airline Academy.[1] It comprises divisions including some of those formerly in the Aviation Systems segment andWescam.[1]
In November 2023, L3Harris announced that it would sell its Commercial Aviation Solutions business toThe Jordan Company for up to $800 million.[41]
Communications & Spectrum Dominance specializes in tactical communications, broadband communications, night vision (inherited from L3 Technologies, unrelated to night vision developed by Harris, ITT, or Exelis), and public safety.[1]
Missile Solutions consists of the "Missile Systems" segment acquired from Aerojet Rocketdyne, plus theRS-25 engine product line.[42] L3Harris agreed to sell the "Space Propulsion and Power Systems" segment of Aerojet Rocketdyne toAE Industrial Partners in 2026, who willspin it off under the business under the name "Rocketdyne".[38] The remaining Missile Solutions segment will be spun off a new company in the second half of 2026 via an IPO, with L3Harris retaining controlling ownership and the US Government investing $1 billion.[39]
L3Harris has faced several allegations and settlements related to financial misconduct and employment practices. These include allegations of violating the False Claims Act through double billing on Department of Defense contracts and overcharging for parts. Additionally, the company has been involved in ERISA lawsuits related to excessive 401(k) fees. There have also been claims of discriminatory practices, including allegations of wrongful termination due to PTSD. Furthermore, L3Harris has settled export violation charges with the Department of State.[49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]
L3Harris has been accused of violating the False Claims Act by double-billing the Department of Defense for parts and materials. For example, they allegedly billed the DOD for nuts and bolts both as part of a material additive factor and as individual parts, resulting in overcharging.[57][58][59]
L3Harris has paid significant sums to settle these allegations. They agreed to pay $62 million to settle allegations related to false statements and violations of the Truth In Negotiations Act. They also settled for $21.8 million regarding the double-billing allegations.[60][61]
A class action lawsuit was filed against L3Harris for allegedly charging excessive record keeping and administrative fees in their 401(k) plan, as well as failing to monitor investment options. The company settled this lawsuit for $650,000.[62][63]
A former employee successfully sued L3Harris, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated due to his PTSD. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the lawsuit, stating a reasonable jury could find that his PTSD was a factor in the termination.[64]
Another employee is pursuing claims that he was terminated for reporting potential misconduct by another employee, potentially violating the National Defense Authorization Act and the False Claims Act.[65]
L3Harris settled charges with the Department of State for export violations, agreeing to pay $13 million.[66][67]
L3Harris has been involved in the development of surveillance technology, specifically the "Stingray" device, which has raised privacy concerns and been criticized for its use by law enforcement.[68]
L3Harris Technologies has recently been engaged in a series of layoffs,[when?] primarily as part of a cost-cutting measure and restructuring effort known as LHX NeXt. This initiative aims to streamline operations and achieve $1 billion in cost savings over the next three years.[69][70]
In April 2024, L3Harris announced a 5% reduction in its global workforce, impacting employees across various locations and departments. This workforce reduction is expected to affect hundreds of jobs in Palm Bay and other locations where the company operates. Additionally, in February 2025, L3Harris announced layoffs affecting 179 employees at its Rockwall facility in Texas, primarily due to the conclusion of the JAVA MAN program, an aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance program. The company noted that the majority of these affected employees resided out of state and worked remotely overseas.[71][72][73][74]
While L3Harris has not publicly disclosed the exact number of individuals impacted by these layoffs, it's evident that these workforce reductions are part of a broader trend of operational adjustments in the defense and technology sectors, driven by economic pressures and the need for agility and financial stability. L3Harris is also addressing challenges in its satellite supply chain, which has faced issues with late deliveries from a key supplier. The company has responded by shifting to a new supplier to ensure timely deliveries.[75]
Consistent with the Merger Agreement and Mr. Brown's and Mr. Kubasik's respective employment arrangements, on June 29, 2022, (a) Mr. Brown ceased being Chair of L3Harris and retired from L3Harris; (b) and Mr. Kubasik, age 61, succeeded him as Chair of L3Harris, becoming Chair and Chief Executive Officer of L3Harris, and ceased being Vice Chair of L3Harris.
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