# L3Harris Technologies

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/l3harris
US defence contractor that bought Aerojet Rocketdyne in 2023, a long-time maker of solid rocket motors for Javelin, Stinger, Patriot and every US Air Force ICBM. In 2026 it put its missile work into a Missile Solutions business backed by a $1B Pentagon investment.

## In brief

- Camden, Arkansas builds over 75,000 solid rocket motors a year for Javelin, Stinger and Patriot.
- Pentagon's $1B investment in Missile Solutions closed April 2026; the IPO slipped to mid-2027.
- $1.3B Virginia propulsion campus (April 2026) will more than double rocket motor space there.

## Facts

- Founded: 2019
- Headquarters: US
- Status: public
- Listing: LHX (NYSE)
- Website: https://www.l3harris.com
- Frontiers: [Manufacturing](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing.md) (Munitions & drone production)

## Programs

- [Missile Solutions rocket motor expansion](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing/missile-solutions-srm-expansion.md) (Manufacturing): Scaling; next: Javelin motor expansion in Virginia ($41.2M) completes (2026). Camden and Virginia expansions under way; large-motor production due 2027; IPO pushed to mid-2027.

## Technical approach

- **One roof: Consolidated motor line**: Camden moves key steps into one 60,000 sq ft building, cutting how far motors travel during production by 80%.
- **Flexible tooling: Program-agnostic equipment**: New large-motor equipment in Camden is not tied to one missile, so output can shift with demand.
- **Three sites: Arkansas, Virginia, Alabama**: Motors are made in Camden (AR) and Orange (VA); inert missile parts move from Virginia to Huntsville (AL).

## Open problems

- **Paying for the build-out** (open): The IPO meant to fund growth slipped from late 2026 to mid-2027; L3Harris says most proceeds are needed in 2027–2029.
- **Turning demand into contracts** (open): About $20B of new contracts under negotiation would triple the backlog; plants are sized on those deals.

## Upcoming

- **2027**: Camden large solid rocket motor campus begins production (Missile Solutions rocket motor expansion)
- **2027**: Missile Solutions IPO attempt (Missile Solutions rocket motor expansion)

## Latest updates

- **30 Jul 2026**: L3Harris pauses the Missile Solutions IPO, now aiming for mid-2027. L3Harris delayed the Missile Solutions IPO from the second half of 2026 to mid-2027, saying IPO markets are adjusting on valuation. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/l3harris-pauses-the-missile-solutions-ipo-now-aiming-for-mid-2027-8498429d.md) · [original source](https://washingtontechnology.com/companies/2026/07/l3harris-presses-pause-missile-solutions-ipo-plan/415121/))
- **23 Apr 2026**: L3Harris closes the Pentagon's $1B investment in its Missile Solutions business. The Department of War's $1B investment in Missile Solutions closed. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/l3harris-closes-the-pentagon-s-1b-investment-in-its-missile-solutions-e8165ea8.md) · [original source](https://l3harris.com/newsroom/press-release/2026/04/l3harris-closes-1b-investment-department-war-missile-solutions))
- **15 Apr 2026**: L3Harris plans $1.3B solid rocket motor campus in Orange County, Virginia. L3Harris will spend $1.3B on an advanced propulsion campus in Orange County, Virginia, with dozens of new buildings for mixing, grinding, casting and final assembly of solid rocket motors. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/l3harris-plans-1-3b-solid-rocket-motor-campus-in-orange-county-virginia-c8de1cad.md) · [original source](https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/l3harris-technologies-orange-virginia-expansion-advanced-propuls/817591/))
- **13 Jan 2026**: Pentagon agrees to invest $1B in a new L3Harris Missile Solutions company planned for IPO. L3Harris will carve its solid rocket motor and missile propulsion work into a Missile Solutions company, with the Department of War investing $1B. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/pentagon-agrees-to-invest-1b-in-a-new-l3harris-missile-solutions-69be6c9e.md) · [original source](https://news.clearancejobs.com/2026/01/13/pentagon-signs-on-to-fund-new-l3harris-missile-solutions-company-in-1-billion-investment/))
- **17 Jul 2025**: L3Harris plans a large solid rocket motor campus in Camden with six times today's capacity. L3Harris announced a campus of more than 20 buildings on 110 acres in Camden for large solid rocket motors, used in interceptors, hypersonic vehicles and missile-defence targets. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/l3harris-plans-a-large-solid-rocket-motor-campus-in-camden-with-six-e5ee0489.md) · [original source](https://www.l3harris.com/newsroom/press-release/2025/07/l3harris-expand-solid-rocket-motor-production-arkansas))
- **20 Feb 2025**: L3Harris breaks ground on four new solid rocket motor buildings in Camden, Arkansas. Construction began on four solid rocket motor production buildings at the Aerojet Rocketdyne campus in Camden, funded under a $215.6M Defense Production Act agreement. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/l3harris-breaks-ground-on-four-new-solid-rocket-motor-buildings-in-44eb9339.md) · [original source](https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2025/02/20/l3harris-breaks-ground-on-solid-rocket-motor-production-expansion/))

## Partners, customers and investors

- US Department of War (investor): $1B convertible preferred stake in Missile Solutions, closed April 2026, plus warrants.

## People

- Christopher Kubasik, Chair and CEO
- Kenneth Bedingfield, President, Missile Solutions

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