L3Harris News

Bloomberg

High activity

Trump: Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i (VC-25B) Air Force One to undergo additional “maxed out” defensive/security upgrades

President Donald Trump said the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-800/747-8i that serves as the new Air Force One will be taken offline for further upgrades after lawmakers and security questions over the aircraft’s defenses. Modifications follow concerns that L3Harris-rapidly updated systems did not meet typical presidential transport security standards.

Payload

High activity

SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes

The Space Development Agency plans to resume launches after a nine-month pause, sending a second (Tranche 1) batch of 21 York Space Systems transport-layer satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California. SDA says it implemented tech fixes to restart momentum for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and secure military/ally communications.

SpaceNews.com

SDA awards $1.75B for Golden Dome Tranche 3 tracking satellites; L3Harris gets $955M for 18 spacecraft

The U.S. Space Development Agency awarded $1.75 billion for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellites supporting the Golden Dome missile defense shield. L3Harris received $955 million to produce 18 satellites, with Sierra Space getting $798 million, under fixed-price OTA rapid-prototyping contracts targeting Tranche 3 by end-2028.

AINonline

L3Harris wins FAA airspace surveillance modernization contract through 2045, covering 700+ ground stations nationwide

L3Harris has been selected for an FAA airspace surveillance modernization contract that runs through 2045. The agreement covers more than 700 ground stations across the U.S., supporting ongoing updates to the national surveillance infrastructure used for airspace monitoring.

The War Zone

High activity

L3Harris completes 10-month transformation of Qatar-gifted 747-8i into interim VC-25B “Air Force One”

L3Harris used roughly 10 months to convert the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i into an interim VC-25B presidential transport. The build accelerates the near-term Air Force One replacement path while the broader next-generation VC-25B program continues to mature.

FlightGlobal

L3Harris eyes Poland for new business-jet conversion hub to serve domestic and export customers

L3Harris is advocating Poland as the likely location for a new business-jet conversion hub, arguing the country offers strong engineering and technical capability for domestic and export customers. The push frames Poland as a base for scalable conversion work rather than a one-off program footprint.

Breaking Defense

L3Harris and Skydagger to co-produce FPV interceptor drones in the US, integrating small interceptors into the Vampire c-UAS pla

L3Harris and Turkish firm Skydagger plan to establish US co-production of FPV interceptor drones, enabling for the first time Vampire to be equipped with a small interceptor drone. The arrangement is designed to expand Vampire’s counter-uncrewed aircraft capabilities against fast-evolving FPV threats.

FlightGlobal

Pentagon channels foreign interest from used A-10s to L3Harris’ OA-1K Skyraider II “persistent and affordable” ISR/strike platfo

An unnamed foreign government’s interest in buying older A-10 attack jets is reportedly being redirected by the Pentagon toward L3Harris’ OA-1K Skyraider II. L3Harris says the modular Skyraider II variants deliver about five hours of surveillance and strike capability, with one platform flying with USAF Special Operations Command and another ready for international customers.