L3Harris Lands U.S. Navy Work Covering Submarine Mast Systems

L3Harris Technologies has secured a U.S. Navy contract to supply low-profile masts for the service’s Virginia-class attack submarines and the forthcoming Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, according to a report by Ocean News & Technology.

The award places the Melbourne, Florida-based contractor further into the naval subsystems supply chain at a moment when undersea programs represent one of the largest sustained investment areas in the Navy’s shipbuilding plans. Virginia-class boats are produced jointly by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding, while the Columbia-class, the Navy’s next-generation ballistic missile submarine program, is in early construction and is widely regarded as the service’s top acquisition priority.

Low-profile masts are retractable structures that extend from a submarine’s hull and can house sensors, communication antennas, and other equipment. Their design allows them to stow flush with the hull, reducing drag and detectability compared with traditional fixed masts. Contract work of this type typically spans design, production, and integration support across multiple hulls rather than a single vessel delivery.

For L3Harris, the win adds to a portfolio that has been shifting through a corporate reorganization into three segments: Space & Mission Systems, Communications & Spectrum Dominance, and Missile Solutions. The company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LHX, is part of the Industrials sector within the Aerospace & Defense industry and currently carries a market capitalization of approximately $48.8 billion.

Shares of L3Harris were trading at $252.52 on the day of the report, down 1.26% from the previous close of $255.74. There was no indication whether the contract value was disclosed in the original release.

Submarine industrial base suppliers have drawn increasing attention in Washington as the Navy balances concurrent production of Virginia-class boats with the Columbia-class build schedule. Component-level awards such as this one illustrate how the defense technology sector participates in that buildout beyond the two prime shipbuilders, supporting programs expected to run across decades of construction and fleet sustainment.

What to watch

• L3Harris’s next quarterly earnings report, which may provide detail on naval and maritime program revenue.
• Navy contract announcements and obligations tied to Virginia-class and Columbia-class construction schedules.
• Any disclosed contract value or option structure for this award in follow-on filings or releases.

Source: original release