L3Harris

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is an American technology company that works on many important projects. It makes products for the government, defense, and commercial sectors. These products include systems that help control and manage operations, wireless equipment, special radios for communication, and equipment that helps airplanes fly better.

The company also creates tools that allow people to see in the dark, systems to gather important information, and devices used to watch over areas from far away. L3Harris provides services for training and navigation, and makes antennas that can be used on the ground or in space.

L3Harris was created when two companies, L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation, joined together on June 29, 2019. After this joining, it became the sixth-largest defense contractor in the United States.

History

L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation

Main articles: L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation

The Harris Automatic Press Company began in Niles, Ohio in 1895 by Alfred S. Harris. It made printing presses and tools for many years. In 1967, it joined with Radiation, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida, which worked on space technology. The main office moved to Melbourne in 1978. In 2015, Harris bought a company named Exelis Inc., which made it much larger.

L-3 Communications started in 1997 when it bought parts of Lockheed Martin. It was created by Frank Lanza and Robert LaPenta, who used to work at Lockheed. The company grew by buying other companies and became very important to the U.S. government. In 2016, it changed its name to L3 Technologies to better show its work.

Post-merger

In October 2018, Harris and L3 announced they would join together. To do this, Harris sold its night vision part because combining both would control too much of that market. The joining happened in June 2019, creating L3Harris Technologies, Inc., with its office in Melbourne, Florida. The new company was led by William M. Brown and later by Chris Kubasik.

L3Harris has worked on many projects for the U.S. government and other countries, including border defense and space technology. In 2022, it talked about buying a company that makes special software, but stopped after the White House said no. In 2023, L3Harris bought Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings for $4.7 billion. In 2026, it plans to sell part of its rocket engine business and create a new company from the rest.

Business organization

As of 2026^[update], L3Harris has three main business areas: Space & Mission Systems, Communications and Spectrum Dominance, and Missile Solutions. The company is led by a 13-member board of directors, with Chris Kubasik as chair and CEO.

Space & Mission Systems works on space missions and sensors for satellite navigation, weather, and missile defense. It also creates systems for controlling space operations and for air traffic and defense.

Communications & Spectrum Dominance focuses on special communications and night vision technology.

Missile Solutions includes systems from Aerojet Rocketdyne and the RS-25 engine line. There are plans to sell part of this area and start a new company by late 2026. L3Harris will keep some control, and the US Government will invest $1 billion.

Main article: Aerojet Rocketdyne

Products

L3Harris makes many useful tools and machines for different jobs. Some of their products include a mobile aviation training simulator called AVCATT, phone trackers named StingRay and Hailstorm, and a wireless communication system called OpenSky. They also create important computer parts for airplanes like the F-35 Lightning II and C-130J Super Hercules, as well as night vision devices that help people see in the dark. Their products are used by governments and many different industries around the world.

Controversies

L3Harris has had some problems with money and how they treat their workers.

Financial Misconduct

False Claims Act Violations

L3Harris was claimed to have charged the Department of Defense too much for parts.

Settlements

L3Harris paid money to settle these claims. They paid $62 million for false statements and price rules. They also paid $21.8 million for the price claims.

ERISA Lawsuits

Some workers claimed L3Harris charged too much for managing their retirement money. The company paid $650,000 to settle this claim.

Employment Practices

Discriminatory Termination

A worker claimed he was let go because of a health issue.

Retaliation Claims

A worker claimed he was let go for reporting a possible problem.

Other Issues

Export Violations

L3Harris paid $13 million to settle claims about breaking export rules.

Spyware Controversy

L3Harris made technology that can watch people, raising privacy concerns.

Layoffs

L3Harris Technologies has been reducing its workforce to save money and improve efficiency. In April 2024, the company cut 5% of its global staff, affecting many jobs in places like Palm Bay and other offices.

In February 2025, 179 employees at the Rockwall facility in Texas lost their jobs because a specific aerial surveillance program ended. Most of these employees lived outside Texas and worked remotely from other countries.

These changes are part of larger adjustments in the defense and technology industries, as companies respond to economic challenges and supply chain issues. L3Harris is working to fix delays in satellite parts by switching to a new supplier.