L3Harris

L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation

The "Harris Automatic Press Company" was founded by Alfred S. Harris in Niles, Ohio, in 1895. The company spent the next 60 years developing lithographic processes and printing presses before acquiring typesetting company Intertype Corporation. In 1967, they merged with Radiation, Inc. of Melbourne, Florida, a developer of antenna, integrated circuit, and modem technology used in the space race. The company headquarters was moved from Cleveland to Melbourne in 1978.[7][8] In May 2015, Harris finalized the purchase of competitor Exelis Inc., almost doubling the size of the original company.[9]

L-3 Communications was formed in 1997 to acquire certain business units from Lockheed Martin that had previously been part of Loral Corporation. These units had belonged to Lockheed Corporation and Martin 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 with Lehman Brothers. Lanza and LaPenta had both served as executives at Loral and Lockheed.[11] The company continued to expand through mergers 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 million lobbying for ICE radio procurement ($20,000),[14] the Intelligence Authorization Act ($1,510,000),[15] DHS fund appropriations for unmanned vehicles ($430,000),[16] and night vision systems research ($20,000).[17]

In 2008, 72 Iraqi civilians sued L3 Services and CACI 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".[18]

In 2012, L3 subsidiary KDI Precision Products participated in the sale of 11,500 JDAM bomb fuzes to Israel, part of a $647 million contract deal.[19] These were among the weapons used by the IDF in the 2014 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.[20][21]

Post-merger

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.[22] 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 CEO William M. Brown as the Chairman and CEO, with former L3 CEO as the President and COO.[3] In June 2021, Brown turned over the role of CEO to Chris Kubasik, retaining the title of Executive Chair, and Kubasik adding the title of Vice Chair.[23]

Between 2006 and July 2021, L3Harris was awarded 136 U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts totalling $308.2 million, "as well as six blanket purchase orders potentially worth up to $6 billion".[24][25]

In 2018, L3Harris acquired two Australian zero-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 the Five Eyes and the Federal 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 company NSO, which builds Pegasus 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 buy Aerojet 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 to AE Industrial Partners, who will spin off the business under the name "Rocketdyne". The deal includes the RL-10 upper stage engine used on the Vulcan rocket, but not the RS-25 engine used by the Space Launch System.[37][38] The remaining Missile Solutions business is planned to undergo an IPO 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]

Space and Mission Systems

Space and Mission Systems specializes in space mission, payloads, and sensors for satellite navigation, ISR, weather, and missile defense; ground systems for space command and control and tracking; optical and wireless networking for situational awareness and air traffic management; defense avionics; and electronic warfare countermeasures; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and signals 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 and UAVs; and commercial aviation services including the L3Harris Airline Academy.[1] It comprises divisions including some of those formerly in the Aviation Systems segment and Wescam.[1]

In November 2023, L3Harris announced that it would sell its Commercial Aviation Solutions business to The Jordan Company for up to $800 million.[41]

Communications & Spectrum Dominance

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

Missile Solutions consists of the "Missile Systems" segment acquired from Aerojet Rocketdyne, plus the RS-25 engine product line.[42] L3Harris agreed to sell the "Space Propulsion and Power Systems" segment of Aerojet Rocketdyne to AE Industrial Partners in 2026, who will spin 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]

Financial Misconduct

False Claims Act Violations

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][52][54]

Settlements

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. [52][54]

ERISA Lawsuits

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. [51][56]

Employment Practices

Discriminatory Termination

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. [55]

Retaliation Claims

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. [58]

Other Issues

Export Violations

L3Harris settled charges with the Department of State for export violations, agreeing to pay $13 million. [50][53]

Spyware Controversy

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. [59]