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Pentagon Invests $1 Billion in L3Harris Rocket-Motor Spinoff

The move gives the Pentagon a direct stake to speed solid-rocket motor production through an IPO-tied investment.

Overview

  • The Defense Department will provide $1 billion via convertible preferred securities that convert to equity at a planned initial public offering in the second half of 2026.
  • L3Harris will spin off its Missile Solutions unit and keep majority ownership, while officials say the government will have no board seat or management role.
  • Pentagon officials describe this as the first direct-to-supplier action under the Acquisition Transformation Strategy, with funding drawn from the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program.
  • The partnership is intended to expand solid-rocket motor capacity and enable multi-year procurement agreements, with broader production scaling contingent on congressional appropriations.
  • L3Harris shares rose roughly 10% to 11% on the announcement as industry watchers noted the likelihood of regulatory and congressional scrutiny over competition and potential conflicts of interest.