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L3Harris Technologies

ApplicationMelbourne, Florida, USAFounded 2019· One of 372 Application companies tracked by AMPulse

Uses additive manufacturing (metal PBF-LB and DED) to produce critical aerospace and defense components, including satellite thrusters, hypersonic propulsion systems, and solid rocket motor parts, reducing lead times by up to 12 months.

CEO / Founder
Christopher E. Kubasik
Team Size
10000+
Stage
Public
Total Funding
$1B
Latest Round
Strategic Investment
Key Investors
U.S. Department of War

Technology & Products

Key Products

Satellite thrusters; Hypersonic propulsion components; Solid rocket motor parts; Weapons systems and components; Fuzing and ordnance systems

Technological Advantage

Proprietary binder jetting and metal AM processes achieve high-density parts for extreme environments, protected by extensive internal IP and decades of process development. Advantages are defensible via trade secrets and specialized facility investments.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Reduces production timelines for satellite thrusters by up to 12 months and hypersonic propulsion components by a factor of ten, enabling rapid response to national security demands and reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.

How They Differentiate

Vertically integrated Center of Excellence for propellant research and solid rocket motor production; proprietary AM processes reduce component production time by 10x compared to traditional methods; $1.27 billion investment in domestic manufacturing capacity.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Department of Defense, NASA, commercial aerospace contractors, allied governments

Industry Verticals

Aerospace; Defense; Space

Competitors

Aerojet Rocketdyne; Northrop Grumman; Lockheed Martin

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Full-year 2024 revenue of $21.3 billion, a 10% increase year-over-year; record backlog; $1.27 billion capital investment to expand manufacturing footprint.

Major Milestones

Merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation in 2019; $1.27 billion expansion of Orange County, Virginia facility in 2026; Selected by Space Development Agency for missile defense programs

Notable Customers

Department of Defense; NASA; Space Development Agency

https://www.l3harris.com

Why this company matters

L3Harris occupies a market-leading position in defense additive manufacturing, applying metal PBF-LB and DED to produce satellite thrusters, hypersonic propulsion systems, and solid rocket motor parts. The company's proprietary 'Powder-in, Engine-out' process for hypersonic propulsion and its vertical integration of propellant research and production distinguish it from traditional primes like Aerojet Rocketdyne and Northrop Grumman.

Core technologies include laser powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition for high-density parts capable of surviving extreme environments. L3Harris leverages over two decades of AM experience and extensive internal IP, with defensible advantages rooted in trade secrets and specialized facility investments rather than published patents.

Customers include the Department of Defense, NASA, the Space Development Agency, and commercial aerospace contractors. Applications span satellite thrusters, hypersonic propulsion components, weapons systems, and fuzing and ordnance. The company reports that its AM processes reduce hypersonic propulsion component production time by a factor of ten and satellite thruster lead times by up to 12 months, enabling rapid response to national security demands and reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.

L3Harris's strategic moat rests on a $1.27 billion investment in domestic manufacturing capacity, a record backlog, and partnerships with Palantir Technologies, Anduril, and Amazon Project Kuiper. The 2019 merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation created a vertically integrated defense electronics and propulsion powerhouse. An open question is how the company will sustain its AM advantage as competitors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman invest in similar capabilities.