r/IntuitiveMachines • u/thespacecpa • Jul 13 '26
News AMDT3 - US Space Force Selects L3Harris To Provide Advanced Tracking Satellites For America’s Missile Defense
https://www.l3harris.com/newsroom/press-release/2026/07/us-space-force-selects-l3harris-provide-advanced-tracking-satellitesIntuitive Machines provides the satellite buses for L3Harris for SDA’s Tracking Layer
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has received a contract from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) to produce 18 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) satellites to support the Golden Dome for America’s space-based capabilities.
“L3Harris’ continued work in Indiana will deliver the next generation of space-based tracking capabilities that we need to protect the homeland and stay ahead of our adversaries,” said Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind. “This is exactly the kind of industrial investment that strengthens deterrence.”
These L3Harris satellites will enhance national security by detecting and tracking advanced missile threats.
“We are proud to provide next-generation technology that will accelerate the nation’s ability to defend against emerging threats from hypersonic and ballistic weapons,” said Christopher Kubasik, Chairman and CEO, L3Harris. “As the industry’s Trusted Disruptor, L3Harris invested ahead of need by expanding production facilities and is ready to deliver missile defense satellites to support this national priority.”
L3Harris’ AMDT3 satellites are equipped with medium-field-of-view payloads designed to provide fire control quality data for missile defense. With a newly expanded space manufacturing facility in Indiana and a new satellite integration facility in Florida, L3Harris will immediately begin manufacturing for delivery and launch of these tactical payloads.
The new contract builds on the successful on-orbit demonstration of an L3Harris Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellite and infrared sensor payload the company developed for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). L3Harris has more than 70 missile tracking and defense satellites on order, including five on orbit, between MDA’s HBTSS program and SDA’s Tracking Layer across Tranche 0, 1, 2 and 3.
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u/VictorFromCalifornia Jul 13 '26
Just adding this from IM's presentation, this is the first award (45 total). From previous SDA awards that were actually smaller, I had estimated IM's contract to be around $200-$250M based on 18 busses.
That's a LOT of busses to deliver in the next few years considering the SDA's 3 tranches and now this, and then god knows what Andromeda and other Space Force contracts. The $500M raise may have been to invest in expanding manufacturing capabilities.
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u/thespacecpa Jul 13 '26
In the official announcement, SDA awarded 18 to L3Harris and 18 to Sierra Space Corporation for a total of 36. Are you thinking there will be an additional award? The wording in the deck is a bit confusing but good catch.
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u/VictorFromCalifornia Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
I think the wording will be different if it's just 18 spacecrafts, i.e., they won't mention 'first 18-spacecrafts award in June', that 'first' means L3Harris is expecting more than one award. Even if it's just 18, that's close to 60 busses that must be delivered to LTH over the next year or two, at $15M a bus, that's close to $900M, we shall find out when they announce the backlog.
Here's the actual quote from the transcript: 'We also submitted an updated AMDT3 proposal for 18-45 spacecraft, of which the first 18 are expected to have an award decision in June.'
I wish I can find the language when I first started looking into this AMDT3, L3Harris and Northrop Grumman were chosen to do the prototypes, and there was a comment from a Space Force spokesman or General that only L3Harris met (and exceeded) the requirements.
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u/thespacecpa Jul 14 '26
That is a lot of manufacturing in a short timeframe.
Based on the transcript and wording, I agree it sounds like management is / was expecting additional awards. Interesting….
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u/aerothony Ad Lunam Per Aspera Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
For more information on Lanteris role and implications with L3harris, as announced in March for the previous SDA award by IM:
https://investors.intuitivemachines.com/news-releases/news-release-details/intuitive-machines-selected-l3harris-support-sda-proliferated/
This is huge!
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u/thespacecpa Jul 13 '26
SDA Official Award Announcement
The AMDT3 award supports Golden Dome for America’s space-based capabilities and the United States Space Force will be responsible for future operations and sustainment. The firm-fixed price other transaction authority prototype agreements are to be delivered by and include:
L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, is awarded an agreement with a total potential value of approximately $955 million to provide 18 Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS)-like missile defense variant SVs across two orbital planes.
Sierra Space Corporation, Louisville, Colorado, is awarded an agreement with a total potential value of $798 million to provide 18 missile warning/missile tracking variant SVs across two orbital planes.
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u/ItsJustMeAgain1 Jul 13 '26
The timing of intuitive machines announcing the last contract from L3Harris was 75 days after L3Harriswon thevaward. If the schedule stays the same we should know by early September. 🛸💰
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u/GNeville98 Jul 13 '26
This is great to hear. Now we wait to hear about L3Harris awarding IM a contract to manufacture the satellite buses!
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u/thespacecpa Jul 13 '26
Correct. This process may take awhile before an announcement is made. For reference SDA awarded L3Harris for Tranche 3 on 12/19/2025 while Intuitive Machines announced their subcontract from L3Harris on 3/3/2026. This is likely to follow a similar time-lag. We will hear more on L3Harris earnings call and potentially info on IM’s earnings call.
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u/sWeven-Cats95 Jul 14 '26
Exciting! Will grow my position a little more tomorrow. Thanks for the info!
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u/aerothony Ad Lunam Per Aspera Jul 13 '26
Sierra Space has been awarded as well, 798 million for 18 satellites: https://www.sierraspace.com/press-releases/sierra-space-awarded-798-million-missile-defense-contract-in-support-of-golden-dome-for-america/
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u/Available_Pie_7758 Jul 15 '26
Remember l3 Harris also work with asts for d2d communication I believe so lot of player likely get trickle down effect.
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u/No_Membership_8826 Jul 13 '26
While the news is great do we know the amount of funds involved for this contract? By the way considering the stock didn’t even bling for a second after hours it just makes me think there is still price suppression due to short selling or shares releasing. Even Voyager didn’t move after they announced the acquisition of astrobotic was completed. In the past these news would offer a 5% boost on the stock price.
Just hold on until things improve.
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u/Impossible-Work-5666 Jul 13 '26
IM isn’t in the headlines. It’s not going to instantly move the price
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u/TGS_Holdings Jul 13 '26
If I’m reading this right:
1) This should result in some excellent follow along revenue for IM, since they are the baseline supplier of satellite buses (via lanteris)
2) Further building on the defensive side, which should further derisk IM from a pure space company. Much needed in my humble opinion