L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris) is an American technology company, defense contractor and information technology services provider that produces C6ISR systems and products, wireless equipment, tactical radios, avionics and electronic systems, night vision equipment, and both terrestrial and spaceborne antennas for use in the government, defense, and commercial sectors. They specialize in surveillance solutions, microwave weaponry, and electronic warfare. It was formed from the merger of L3 Technologies (formerly L-3 Communications) and Harris Corporation on June 29, 2019, and is expected to be the sixth-largest defense contractor in the world.

History 

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. On May 29, 2015, Harris finalized the purchase of competitor Exelis Inc., almost doubling the size of the original company.

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.  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. The company continued to expand through mergers and acquisitions to become one of the top ten U.S. government contractors. 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.

In October 2018, Harris and L3 announced an all-stock "merger of equals". The merger was completed on June 29, 2019, and the new company, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., is based in Melbourne, Florida, where Harris was headquartered.

Business organization 
 L3Harris is organized under four business segments: Integrated Mission Systems, Space & Airborne Systems, Communication Systems, and Aviation Systems. It is led by a 12-member board of directors, including Chairman and CEO William M. Brown (former Harris CEO) and President and COO Chris Kubasik (former L3 CEO). According to merger documents Brown is planning to transition to Executive Chairman in 2021, with Kubasik taking over the CEO role, and Kubasik will become both Chairman and CEO the following year.

Integrated Mission Systems 
Headquartered in Palm Bay, Florida, Integrated Missions Systems specializes in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, electrical and electronic systems for maritime use, and electro-optical systems including infrared, laser imaging, and targeting systems. It comprises divisions, including Wescam, that had a combined revenue of $4.9 billion in 2018.

Space & Airborne Systems 
Headquartered in Palm Bay, Florida, Space & Airborne Systems specializes in space payloads and sensors, optical and wireless networking, avionics, and situational awareness solutions. It comprises divisions that had a combined revenue of $4.0 billion in 2018.

Communications Systems 
Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Communications Systems specializes in tactical communications, broadband communications, night vision, and public safety. It comprises divisions, including EOTech, that had a combined revenue of $3.8 billion in 2018.

Aviation Systems 
Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, Aviation Systems defense aviation products such as UAVs and associated RF equipment; commercial aviation products including airport security, data link communication, collision avoidance systems, and flight recorders; commercial and military training systems, including flight and maintenance simulation; and mission networks. It comprises divisions, such as Link Training & Simulation (which traces its history to the original company founded by Ed Link, inventor of the flight simulator), that had a combined revenue of $3.8 billion in 2018.

Products
 AVCATT, a mobile aviation training simulator
 EOTech, Holographic weapon sights
 StingRay and Hailstorm phone trackers.
 OpenSky wireless communication system
 hC2 L3Harris Command and Control Battle Management Suite—former "Harris Command and Control"

See also
 Carnivore (FBI)
 DCSNET
 ECHELON
 Global surveillance disclosures (2013–present)
 Hepting v. AT&T
 Lawful interception
 Magic Lantern
 NSA ANT catalog
 Patriot Act
 Secrecy of correspondence
 Secure communication
 SORM (Russia)
 Surveillance
 Telecommunications Intercept and Collection Technology Unit
 Telephone tapping
 Total Information Awareness
 Verint

References 

Category:Electronics companies of the United States
Category:Defense companies of the United States
Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the United States
Category:Companies based in Brevard County, Florida
Category:Manufacturing companies based in Florida
Category:Melbourne, Florida
Category:Electronics companies established in 2019
Category:2019 establishments in Florida
Category:Military equipment of the United States
Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Category:Companies formed by merger
Category:L3Harris Technologies
Category:Avionics companies
Category:Security equipment manufacturers