L3Harris Won $96.9 Million Marine Corps Contract

The company will produce specialized radio terminals in Rochester through 2031 to support Marine communications.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Manufacturing

L3Harris Won $96.9 Million Marine Corps Contract

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The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded a $96.9 million contract to L3Harris Technologies for the production of MCWS-X communication terminals. This order ensures manufacturing work will continue in Rochester through September 2031.

Why it matters

The MCWS-X program provides critical connectivity for troops operating in challenging and degraded battlefield environments. The man-portable equipment is designed to operate across multiple frequencies and waveforms to maintain secure communication lines.

The new $96.9 million contract follows a larger $263 million agreement reached in 2020 for the same program. The Panther II terminal equipment is designed for rapid deployment, requiring less than 15 minutes for full setup.

The players

L3Harris Technologies

This is an aerospace and defense technology company that provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers.

U.S. Marine Corps

This is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations.

The details

The contract covers the production of MCWS-X radios and components, which utilize the Panther II terminal system. These devices are configured to be man-portable, allowing them to function reliably in difficult operational conditions.

The Marine Corps originally awarded L3Harris a $263 million contract in 2020.
The new contract award was announced on October 1, 2026.
Manufacturing of the terminals is scheduled to continue through 2031.
All contract work is expected to be completed by September 2031.

Market Landscape

This award reinforces the ongoing commitment to the MCWS-X program following the 2020 Marine Corps MCWS-X system contract. The continued production schedule secures long-term manufacturing operations in the defense sector through the next decade.

The contract secures steady production work in the Rochester area through 2031, supporting local manufacturing jobs and infrastructure. Residents can expect consistent operations at the facilities involved as the company fulfills these multi-year defense requirements.

The takeaway

This long-term agreement highlights the sustained demand for portable communication technology in modern defense strategies. Maintaining such equipment is essential for ensuring that field units remain connected in complex and degraded signal environments.