L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has received a contract from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) to produce 18 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) satellites to support the Golden Dome for America’s space-based capabilities.
"L3Harris’ continued work in Indiana will deliver the next generation of space-based tracking capabilities that we need to protect the homeland and stay ahead of our adversaries," said Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind. "This is exactly the kind of industrial investment that strengthens deterrence."
These L3Harris satellites will enhance national security by detecting and tracking advanced missile threats.
"We are proud to provide next-generation technology that will accelerate the nation’s ability to defend against emerging threats from hypersonic and ballistic weapons," said Christopher Kubasik, Chairman and CEO, L3Harris. "As the industry’s Trusted Disruptor, L3Harris invested ahead of need by expanding production facilities and is ready to deliver missile defense satellites to support this national priority."
L3Harris’ AMDT3 satellites are equipped with medium-field-of-view payloads designed to provide fire control quality data for missile defense. With a newly expanded space manufacturing facility in Indiana and a new satellite integration facility in Florida, L3Harris will immediately begin manufacturing for delivery and launch of these tactical payloads.
The new contract builds on the successful on-orbit demonstration of an L3Harris Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellite and infrared sensor payload the company developed for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). L3Harris has more than 70 missile tracking and defense satellites on order, including five on orbit, between MDA’s HBTSS program and SDA’s Tracking Layer across Tranche 0, 1, 2 and 3.