L3Harris’ infrared and data processing technology plays a role on several of the United States’ key missile warning and defense satellite programs. Photo: L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris lowered guidance for the company to account for a divestiture, but leadership was optimistic on Thursday’s investor call about opportunities for its satellite business to participate in the “Golden Dome” U.S. defense initiative. L3Harris also reported charges on classified space programs in the first quarter of 2025.

L3Harris lowered guidance for the full company on April 24, which also took into account commercial aerospace divestitures that impact the Integrated Mission Systems segment by $525 million. L3Harris issued new guidance of company-wide revenue between $21.4 billion to $21.7 billion, compared to prior guidance of $21.8 billion to $22.2 billion. 

CFO Ken Bedingfield called this a “balanced and disciplined approach, and a “risk aware posture” as the company looks for more clarity from the government on the FY 26 Department of Defense budget, particularly around implementing the Golden Dome executive order, and further clarity around 17 DoD priority areas for the budget.  

L3Harris leadership has been vocal about wanting to pursue opportunities with the Golden Dome for its missile warning/missile defense satellite capabilities, citing a new factory investment. 

CEO Chris Kubasik noted that L3Harris is the only company to win awards across all three tranches of the Space Development Agency Tracking layer, and the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) built by L3Harris that launched in February 2024 is the only on orbit system capable of tracking new range hypersonic missiles.

“If we were to get an award in the next few months, we could launch enough satellites into orbit while President Trump is still in office, thereby having complete coverage of the U.S.,” Kubasik said.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of growth in our satellite business,” Bedingfield also told investors. “The Golden Dome opportunity aligns very well to investments that we have been making — in particular in the area of missile warning, missile tracking. We believe smart investments and our alignment to the needs of the customer are being revealed in the focus on Golden Dome.” 

In the first quarter of 2025, L3Harris reported revenue of $5.13 billion, down 2% year-over-year.

Charges on Classified Space Programs

Revenue in L3Harris Space & Airborne Systems (SAS) segment was down 8% year-over-year in the first quarter, because the company divested an antenna business last year. L3Harris also reported lower volume due to program timing and challenges on classified development programs in the Space Systems business. 

Challenges with legacy fixed-price development programs in the Space Systems business also hurt operating margin in Q1. Operating margin of 10.9% was down 140 basis points.

Bedingfield said that negative adjustments across fixed-price, SAS classified programs were in the range of tens of millions of dollars. 

CEO Chris Kubasik commented that these are legacy programs that in some cases predate the merger of L3Harris and are nearing completion and could lead to future classified satellite programs. 

“I do want to emphasize this does pave the way for future work,” Kubasik said. “None of those programs have been bid. We will know the actual cost [and] the technological specs as additional work comes forward for similar or identical constellations or satellites. I’m highly confident we will win and we will make money on those.”

The Communication Systems segment, which includes satellite terminals, saw 4% revenue increase year-over-year to $1.35 billion, and operating margin increased 150 basis points to 25.5%. L3Harris reported increased international volume on resilient communication equipment and sales of satellite communications terminal inventory.

International Demand 

L3Harris leadership said they have confidence in international sales despite calls for Europe to invest more in its own defense capabilities. Kubasik mentioned the company is exploring new models for collaboration like partnerships with companies headquartered in Europe. 

“The confidence we’re having is the orders that we’ve been able to book and the discussions we’re having with our customers,” Kubasik said. “There tend to be seven to 10 year programs. Given the sense of urgency and the threats in the area, I believe they don’t really have the time to go back and start over. There’s a lot going on in politics but at the end of the day — you want the best technology available. It’s proven over and over that our tactical networks and our software defined radios are superior, and that’s why they’re being procured.”