# L3Harris Technologies (formerly L-3 Communications)

L3Harris Technologies (formerly L-3 Communications) is a Public Company based in New York, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Public Company
- **Headquarters:** New York, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** New York, NY, United States
- **Founded:** 1997
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.l3harris.com

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

L-3 Communications was established in 1997 as a spin-off from Loral Space & Communications, founded by former Loral president Frank Lanza and chairman Bernard Schwartz. The company began with 6,000 employees and $650M in revenue, focusing on secure defense communications systems. From inception, L-3 pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, buying dozens of small defense-electronics firms in a roll-up that reached ~30 acquisitions by the early 2000s. Strategy centered on providing C³ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems, night-vision goggles, avionics, and satellite communication equipment. The company grew organically and through M&A, serving the US Department of Defense as primary customer but also NATO allies. Geographic footprint spanned North America, Europe, and parts of Asia-Pacific. Notable portfolio holdings included L-3 Communications Holdings Inc's own public stock (as a self-owned entity) and assets later folded into L3Harris. Major contracts included the US Army's Tactical Radio System and US Navy electronic warfare systems. Co-investors in deals often included private equity firms like Cerberus Capital Management in some buyouts. By 2010, the firm had over 63,000 employees, revenues exceeding $15B, and a presence in 450+ facilities worldwide. It operated through four business segments: Communication Systems, Government Services, ISR Systems, and Electronic Systems. In 2015, the company appointed new leadership under CEO Michael T. Strianese. An adjacent vehicle was the L-3 Foundation, a charitable arm focused on veterans and STEM education (per public filings). Structurally, L-3's differentiator was its highly decentralized operating model — each acquired unit retained significant autonomy while benefiting from centralized M&A and Pentagon access. This allowed it to buy small, profitable niche players and scale them quickly, avoiding the integration risks typical of defense mega-mergers. That model culminated in the 2019 merger with Harris Corporation to form L3Harris Technologies, now a combined defense prime with ~$18B revenue.

## Sectors

- Aerospace & Defense
- Communications
- Electronics

## Offices

- Melbourne, FL, United States

## People

- Frank C. Lanza — Co-Founder and Chairman
- Robert J. Stevens — President and CEO (1997-2000)

## Related profiles

- [Apothecary by Design](https://altss.com/profile/apothecary-by-design)
- [Safety Net Connect](https://altss.com/profile/safety-net-connect)

---

Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/l-3-communications-holdings-inc

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology