U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Technologies has finalized a $1 billion investment from the Department of War (DoW) into its newly formed Missile Solutions (MSL) business. The capital will flow toward expanding facilities, accelerating research and development, and increasing production capacity for technologies the Pentagon considers critical to national security.
The investment takes the form of a convertible preferred security in MSL, structured to convert into common equity upon an initial public offering. The DoW will also receive warrants to purchase common stock in the unit. L3Harris has signaled its intent to take MSL public in the second half of 2026, subject to market conditions.
“This strategic partnership with the Department of War is a testament to the critical role L3Harris plays in our national security,” said Christopher Kubasik, Chairman and CEO, L3Harris. “The investment will allow us to accelerate innovation and enhance our ability to deliver the advanced capabilities our warfighters need to deter and defeat emerging threats. We are proud to partner with the DoW to ensure the resilience of our defense industrial base for years to come.”
Building the Industrial Base Behind Key Programs
MSL was established in early 2026, consolidating missile-related capabilities from across L3Harris, including operations inherited from legacy Aerojet Rocketdyne. The unit now serves as the production backbone for several high-priority defense programs, including PAC-3, THAAD, Tomahawk, and Standard Missile.
The DoW investment, combined with anticipated IPO proceeds and other capital sources, will fund expansion and modernization of solid rocket motor production facilities in Camden, Arkansas; Huntsville, Alabama; and Orange, Virginia, among other locations. L3Harris will retain majority ownership, above 80 percent, continue consolidating MSL’s financial results on its books.
A Defense Industrial Base Racing to Catch Up
The U.S. defense industrial base is under pressure to produce more, faster, and at lower cost,and additive manufacturing is emerging as one of the most concrete solutions. The Department of War released its first-ever comprehensive additive manufacturing strategy with a stated goal of deploying 3D printing within the defense industrial base to the “widest practical extent,” identifying critical readiness drivers across its weapons systems. That directive is now translating into contract-level action across the missile supply chain.
The clearest examples involve solid rocket motors, long one of the most acute bottlenecks in domestic missile production. Ursa Major received $12.5 million from the U.S. Navy and the Office of Strategic Capital to scale the production of 3D printed solid rocket motors, including a second-source Mk104 Dual Thrust Rocket Motor that powers the Navy’s SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 missiles.
In parallel, the DoD expanded an existing agreement with X-Bow Launch Systems to $28.67 million for the development of 3D printed solid rocket motors for U.S. missiles.
The convergence of federal strategy, direct procurement contracts, and growing private investment in additive manufacturing infrastructure marks a structural strategy: 3D printing is no longer a peripheral tool in defense manufacturing but an increasingly central one.
3D Printing Industry is inviting speakers for its 2026 Additive Manufacturing Applications (AMA) series, covering Energy, Healthcare, Automotive and Mobility, Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Software. Each online event focuses on real production deployments, qualification, and supply chain integration. Practitioners interested in contributing can complete the call for speakers form here.
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Featured image shows PAC-3-MSE. Photo via Credit: Master Sgt. Sean M. Worrell, U.S. Air Force.
