Listen: Why L3Harris Technologies bought a military comms business from Viasat
Brendan O’Connell of L3Harris talks strategy on ‘The Dish’ podcast
In October 2022, defense contractor L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) announced its acquisition of Viasat’s (Nasdaq: VSAT) Link 16 Tactical Data Links business for approximately $2 billion.
Brendan O’Connell, president of broadband communications at Melbourne, Fla.-based L3Harris, joins Connectivity Business News’ new podcast, “The Dish,” to discuss the company’s new Link 16 business.
Link 16 is the main tactical network used by the U.S. military to connect its weapons on the battlefield.
“When you looked at it, really, Viasat provided this instant access to the tactical data link market,” O’Connell said.
The deal includes the highly anticipated XVI space vehicle being delivered to the Air Force Research Laboratory. XVI is an experimental payload designed to add a beyond-line-of-sight capability to Link 16, connecting a local battlefield network to data and systems all over the world.
Tune into “The Dish” to learn why L3Harris made this deal now and how the acquisition strengthens its military communications portfolio.
