L3Harris Secures U.S. Navy Contract for Submarine Drone System
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 26 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Contract Award: L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit to deliver a Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery system, which allows submarines to deploy and recover autonomous underwater vehicles through standard torpedo tubes, marking a significant expansion in defense technology.
- System Capabilities: The system is designed to operate with the Iver4 900 autonomous underwater vehicles and has been tested by U.S. and allied naval forces for missions including intelligence collection, surveillance, reconnaissance, mine detection, and seabed operations, enhancing the operational capabilities of submarines.
- Operational Advantages: This system enables submarines to conduct missions without surfacing, thereby reducing operational exposure, while incorporating lithium-ion battery technology that supports longer mission durations and battery swaps, ensuring continuous operational capability.
- Multi-Platform Compatibility: L3Harris's system is designed to work across multiple submarine classes and with allied platforms, aligning with cooperation initiatives among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States focused on advanced defense technologies, further promoting the integration of manned and unmanned systems in naval operations.
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Analyst Views on LHX
Wall Street analysts forecast LHX stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 309.590
Low
212.00
Averages
253.50
High
280.00
Current: 309.590
Low
212.00
Averages
253.50
High
280.00
About LHX
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. provides end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security. Its segments include Space & Airborne Systems (SAS), Integrated Mission Systems (IMS), Communication Systems (CS), and Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR). The SAS segment supplies full mission solutions as a prime and subsystem integrator in the space, airborne and cyber domains. The IMS segment delivers differentiated mission capabilities and prime systems integration to support intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR), passive sensing and targeting, electronic attack, autonomy, power and communications, networks and sensors. CS enables warfighters across all domains with solutions critical to mission success even in the contested environments. The AR segment provides propulsion, power and armament products and systems to the U.S. Government, including the DoD, NASA and various aerospace and defense prime contractors.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Expansion Investment: L3Harris has invested $25 million to expand its Advanced Manufacturing Facility-South (AMF-South) in Huntsville, adding 130,000 square feet of manufacturing space and increasing the total footprint to approximately 670,000 square feet, significantly enhancing production capacity to meet defense needs.
- Rapid Response Capability: The newly expanded AMF-South facility leverages existing infrastructure to scale production quickly, directly addressing the Department of War's demand for critical munition acceleration, thereby strengthening the company's competitive position in the defense sector.
- Sustained Investment: The expansion in Huntsville continues L3Harris's trend of sustained investments, with capital spending projected to triple from 2024 to 2025, indicating the company's long-term commitment and strategic positioning in the region.
- Hiring Opportunities: AMF-South is currently hiring for various key positions, including Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Project Engineering, Quality Control, and skilled trades such as Machinists and Composite Technicians, to support the increased production demands following the expansion.
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- Investment Expansion: L3Harris has invested $25 million to expand its Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Huntsville, Alabama, adding 130,000 square feet of manufacturing space, which increases its total footprint to approximately 670,000 square feet, significantly enhancing production capacity to meet defense demands.
- Response to Defense Demand: This expansion addresses the Pentagon's need to replenish weapons inventories, with industry executives highlighting supply chain constraints and limited production capacity as major challenges in meeting the growing defense demand, making Huntsville a focal point for defense manufacturing growth.
- Production Capacity Enhancement: The expanded facility will support production activities related to solid rocket motor programs, with L3Harris noting that Huntsville operations currently support over half of its solid rocket motor programs, with output increasing annually, directly aligning with the Department of War's demand for critical munition acceleration.
- Hiring and Investment: L3Harris has increased its investment in Huntsville in recent years, with a projected threefold increase in capital spending between 2024 and 2025, while the company is hiring for various positions including engineering, project management, and skilled manufacturing roles to support the expanded production needs.
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- Intensifying Market Competition: Archer's patent infringement lawsuit against Vertical Aerospace is ongoing, with Vertical claiming the lawsuit is
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- Purchase Order Issued: L3Harris has issued a purchase order to Polish defense company Wojskowe Zaklady Elektroniczne (WZE) for the manufacture of attitude control motors used in the U.S. Army's Patriot PAC-3 missile system, marking a significant step in Poland's efforts to establish domestic production capacity linked to its Wisla air defense program.
- Production Capacity Development: This agreement follows the installation of manufacturing equipment at WZE's facility in Zielonka, Poland, and training conducted at L3Harris' solid rocket motor campus in Camden, Arkansas, indicating that WZE has completed several production reviews necessary for commencing low-rate initial production.
- Missile System Support: The PAC-3 interceptor is designed to target ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft, with each missile containing 180 attitude control motors that assist in guiding the interceptor during flight and support its hit-to-kill targeting system, thereby enhancing defense capabilities.
- Global Defense Collaboration: As the U.S. and allied nations seek to expand missile production capacity amid rising demand for air and missile defense systems in Europe and beyond, L3Harris emphasizes that this collaboration with WZE represents key progress in diversifying its missile propulsion supply base, ensuring that global allies are equipped with critical defense technology.
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