L3Harris Wins $214M German Comms & $37M Navy Test Deals, Cementing Space Coast’s Global Defense Role

Dateline: Melbourne, FL – May 10, 2025

L3Harris Technologies, the Melbourne-headquartered global aerospace and defense innovator, announced two major contract awards this week. These wins underscore its “Trusted Disruptor” status—a strategy evident in these awards for cutting-edge, interoperable systems and highly specialized support—and highlight the Space Coast’s critical role in international and U.S. national security. The company secured orders expected to reach $214 million to equip Germany’s Bundeswehr with its renowned Falcon® tactical radio systems under the Digitalization – Land Based Operations (D-LBO) program. Days later, its subsidiary, L3Harris Interstate Electronics Corp. (IEC), received a $37.1 million modification for ongoing flight test instrumentation (FTI) support for U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs, with significant work performed at Cape Canaveral.

These successes showcase L3Harris’s broad technological capabilities and its integral position in supporting key NATO allies and critical U.S. defense infrastructure, all orchestrated from its Florida nerve center.

Bolstering NATO: $214M for German Military Digitalization

Germany’s D-LBO program is a flagship initiative to modernize its land forces’ command-and-control and communication networks, aiming to integrate approximately 10,000 combat vehicles and 155,000 personnel into a secure, IP-capable network by 2030. Backed by substantial funding (around €3.2 billion total, with a €1.9 billion Tactical Wide Area Network component), D-LBO is central to Germany’s “Zeitenwende” (turning point) in defense policy. This national effort focuses on digitization, resilience against electronic warfare, and enhanced NATO interoperability.

L3Harris, in the contract announced May 6, 2025, will deliver its Falcon® family of tactical radios, including models such as the Falcon III RF-7800H MP manpack and RF-7850A MR multi-channel radios. These systems are recognized for their battle-tested hardware, resilient performance, embedded AES encryption, internal GPS, wideband coverage (1.5 to 512 MHz), and sophisticated waveform technology. They are designed for secure voice and data transmission in contested environments. A key feature is their inherent interoperability with U.S. DoD and other Coalition forces, directly addressing a core NATO priority. Sam Mehta, President of L3Harris Communication Systems, emphasized, “Resilient and immediate communication among allies is crucial for countering threats posed by aggressive adversaries.”

While the Communication Systems segment is headquartered in Rochester, NY, strategic oversight for such major international contracts stems from L3Harris’s corporate leadership in Melbourne. This leadership includes defining long-term technology roadmaps, allocating R&D resources that benefit global product lines, and managing complex international program execution. This German win follows similar successes, such as providing Falcon radios for the Netherlands’ FOXTROT program, indicating a growing reliance on L3Harris technology for NATO modernization.

Supporting U.S. Naval Prowess: $37.1M for Strategic Test Instrumentation

On May 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a $37,096,265 contract modification for L3Harris Interstate Electronics Corp. (IEC), an Anaheim, CA-based subsidiary. This funding supports continued flight test instrumentation services vital for the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, particularly for the Trident II D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) program. This modification extends the contract (N00030-22-C-2001) through September 2029, bringing its total potential value to $416.4 million.

L3Harris IEC has a long and distinguished history of providing specialized electronics, sensors, recorders, and telemetry systems for these critical tests. The instrumentation they supply is essential for monitoring missile performance during test flights, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the nation’s sea-based strategic deterrent.

Crucially for Florida, a significant portion of this work (31-40% in various modifications under the parent contract) is performed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This directly links IEC’s specialized activities to L3Harris’s operational footprint on the Space Coast, supporting test launches conducted on the Eastern Range.

Florida: The Nerve Center for a Global Defense Leader

These contracts underscore the central role of L3Harris’s extensive Florida operations. With corporate headquarters in Melbourne, two of its four primary business segments (Space & Airborne Systems and Integrated Mission Systems) headquartered in Palm Bay, and the recently acquired Aerojet Rocketdyne also based in Melbourne, Florida is far more than a symbolic base for the company.

L3Harris employs approximately 9,000 individuals across 27 locations in the state. This workforce contributes over $1 billion in annual wages and supports an additional economic impact of roughly $470 million through Florida-based suppliers. Recent investments, like a $2 million state grant for new satellite integration and microelectronics facilities in Palm Bay, further solidify this commitment. The expertise and infrastructure within Florida enable L3Harris to manage complex global programs, such as the German communications deal, and provide direct, hands-on support for critical U.S. defense activities at Cape Canaveral. This ecosystem, with its deep pool of specialized engineering talent, proximity to critical test ranges like the Eastern Range, and robust aerospace supply chain, provides an unparalleled advantage in executing such complex defense programs.

Strategic Implications & Market Position

The timing and nature of these contracts reflect a dynamic global defense landscape. Increased European defense spending, driven by geopolitical realities, creates significant opportunities for advanced technology providers like L3Harris. The company’s Communication Systems segment reported $5.5 billion in 2024 revenue, and overall Q1 2025 company revenue was $5.1 billion with GAAP EPS of $2.04. CEO Christopher Kubasik highlighted the company’s alignment with evolving national security priorities.

L3Harris’s ability to secure these diverse contracts reinforces its “Trusted Disruptor” strategy. For the Space Coast, these wins translate not just into economic benefits but also into a continued central role in developing, producing, and supporting the technologies that underpin national and allied security. These contracts affirm that from its Space Coast hub, L3Harris is not only responding to current global defense needs but is also shaping the technological landscape for future national and allied security, ensuring the region remains a critical node in global defense.

For the latest analysis on how global defense developments impact our region, keep reading Space Coast Defense.