Faster, more elusive and more dangerous than ever before, hypersonic missiles are an increasing threat to global security. The U.S. and its allies must confront the emerging threat as adversaries build out their hypersonic capabilities.
Defending against high-speed, highly maneuverable threats starts in space with advanced missile warning and defense (MW/MD) systems that provide the earliest possible detection, tracking, and fire control. The U.S. has made tremendous strides in advancing our space-based capabilities in this domain in large part via initiatives from the Space Development Agency (SDA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC). No single nation can tackle this challenge alone when the threat is global. The path forward is together. Industry, government, and academia need to forge international partnerships that combine expertise, technologies, policy and shared intelligence to safeguard our collective security.
At L3Harris, we’re making bold moves to do just that. Over the past couple of years, we’ve stepped up our work with both domestic and international customers to develop cutting-edge hypersonic capabilities and MW/MD solutions that improve the entire chain of detection, tracking, targeting and engagement.
Building a safer world starts at home
Our progress is particularly evident in the U.S., where we’re currently the only prime contractor working on MW/MD programs across three key agencies spearheading our nation’s missile defense architecture: SDA, MDA and SSC. For example, over the past year we received a contract to design and build 18 space vehicles with infrared payloads for a near-global missile warning and tracking program; continued development of a government satellite program designed specifically to identify and track hypersonic missiles; received approval to begin production on a constellation of satellites with advanced missile detection and tracking capabilities; and designed, built and tested multiple space vehicles for two of these agencies to demonstrate advanced capabilities ahead of our production deliveries.
Accelerating hypersonic development with international allies
We’re also bringing innovative, integrated hypersonic weapons solutions to a key ally across the Atlantic. Earlier in 2024, we joined the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development (HTCDF) agreement, which seeks to rapidly advance the nation’s hypersonic missile capabilities over the next decade. We were selected for the agreement thanks to our track record of providing integrated weapons safety, avionics and telemetry subsystems to both sub-sonic and hypersonic weapons systems worldwide.
Japan is similarly keen to bolster its hypersonic capabilities both defensively and offensively as their Space Law continues to evolve. In May of 2024, the Japanese prime minister announced a partnership with the U.S. to build a hypersonic missile interceptor, planned for deployment by the mid-2030s. And in July, the country performed a test launch of its own hypersonic missile in development.
With various space-based capabilities already in place in partnership with Japan, L3Harris is uniquely positioned to support these efforts, which span geostationary weather satellites, advanced environmental monitoring, and defense capabilities. The advanced sensors L3Harris provides to today’s weather tracking satellites could serve as a technological springboard for future satellite development and on-orbit hypersonic defense capabilities.
International partnerships are key to a safer world
L3Harris’ work across the U.S., U.K. and Japan illustrates the power of international partnerships with our closest allies in confronting the hypersonic threat. By pooling our expertise, technologies and resources, we’re not just responding to current challenges—we’re anticipating what’s next. As the Trusted Disruptor, we’ll continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in MW/MD and we stand ready to help our partners preserve global security in an increasingly complex world.
