Missile Defense Has One Test Watchdog: L3Harris Wins $500M Uncontested Deal

Missile defense hinges on one verification capability, and a U.S. watchdog says L3Harris has secured the work. The Missile Defense Agency awarded L3Harris Technologies Integrated Systems L.P. a decade-long $499.6 million contract on July 6, 2026, to operate the only U.S. fleet of HALO aircraft that independently confirms whether a missile interceptor’s kill vehicle struck its target. The agreement runs from September 15, 2026 through September 14, 2036 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity structure. An initial $22.2 million task order was issued at award, with $5 million in fiscal year 2026 RDT&E funds obligated immediately. The solicitation drew one proposal, producing an uncontested practical outcome despite a nominally open competition. The award underscores how HALO’s EO/IR sensors complement radar tracking, as radar alone cannot definitively prove impact. The contract follows a $173 million ceiling Aeromet deal awarded in September 2021.