L3Harris Receives Subcontract for Avionics for ULA Project Kuiper Launches 

L3Harris has been ULA’s primary launch avionics partner since 2017, supporting Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. Photo: ULA 

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has awarded L3Harris Technologies a contract to provide avionics and communication equipment to support Amazon’s Project Kuiper launches. The contract, announced April 15, covers a five-year period. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

L3Harris has been ULA’s primary launch avionics partner since 2017, supporting Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. The company has agreed to provide communication transmitters, range safety receivers, power distribution and control, data acquisition, flight computers and inertial measurement units. L3Harris is also the primary avionics provider for ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur rockets through 2027.

“This award highlights the longstanding ULA and L3Harris partnership that enables competitive launch services,” said Kristin Houston, president of Electro Optical for L3Harris. “We are proud to be a key team member in the launch of this large-scale commercial satellite project to connect unserved and underserved communities around the world.” 

ULA is quickly announcing subcontracts to support the large Amazon Project Kuiper launch contract, which will see the company launch at least 47 missions for the broadband constellation. Last week, ULA secured the largest-ever RL10 engine contract with Aerojet Rocketdyne to support the missions. 

ULA CEO Tory Bruno said at the announcement that the contract will lead to increases in facilities and production capability at ULA and industry partners. “We are going to essentially be doubling America’s launch industrial base. These additional launches will take [ULA] to about twice our flight rate, which means about twice our infrastructure,” Bruno said on April 5.