WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded L3Harris Technologies Integrated Systems L.P., doing business as Aeromet, an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $499.57 million to continue operating and maintaining the specialized aircraft and airborne sensor systems used during U.S. missile defense flight tests.
The contract, announced on July 6, 2026, will support the agency's Flight Test Airborne Sensors (ABS) program from September 15, 2026, through September 14, 2036. The work will be performed by L3Harris' Aeromet division in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which specializes in aircraft equipped with advanced tracking and imaging sensors for missile testing missions.
Under the agreement, Aeromet will provide aircraft operations and maintenance, sustain airborne sensor systems, conduct mission planning and execution, and carry out engineering upgrades to keep the aircraft and equipment ready for future missile defense test campaigns.
Supporting U.S. Missile Defense Flight Tests
The aircraft supported under the program are known as HALO (High Altitude Observatory) aircraft. These specialized platforms operate at high altitudes during missile defense tests and carry electro-optical and infrared sensors designed to collect detailed imagery and tracking data throughout an interceptor engagement.
During a missile defense test, engineers require more than confirmation that an interceptor reached its target. The HALO aircraft record high-quality visual and infrared data, track missile flight paths, and capture information needed to determine whether an interceptor successfully struck its target and how the system performed during each phase of the engagement.
The aircraft function as airborne observation platforms and flying laboratories, providing information that complements data collected by ground-based radars and other tracking systems.
Critical Data for System Evaluation
The information collected during flight tests plays an important role in evaluating missile defense systems. Engineers use the data to assess interceptor performance, identify technical issues, validate test results, and support decisions on future upgrades and development.
According to the Missile Defense Agency, airborne observations provide details that cannot always be obtained through ground-based sensors or satellites alone. The combination of optical imagery, infrared recordings, and precision tracking data helps provide a more complete understanding of each missile interception test.
The data also contributes to decisions regarding continued development, modernization, and operational readiness of U.S. missile defense capabilities designed to protect the homeland, deployed forces, and allied partners against ballistic missile threats.
Follow-On to Earlier Contract
The new agreement succeeds a previous 2021 Airborne Sensors contract awarded to Aeromet, which was valued at approximately $172.7 million and runs through September 2026. While covering largely the same mission, the new contract significantly increases both the funding ceiling and the performance period, extending support for another ten years.
The Missile Defense Agency has already issued an initial task order worth $22.17 million, with $5 million in fiscal year 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funding obligated at the time of award.
The contract was awarded through a competitive procurement process, with L3Harris serving as the sole bidder.
Flexible Long-Term Support
The IDIQ contract structure allows the Missile Defense Agency to issue task orders as future missile defense testing requirements evolve rather than funding all work at once. This approach provides flexibility to schedule aircraft operations, sensor maintenance, modernization efforts, and engineering upgrades based on upcoming flight test campaigns.
The long-term agreement indicates the agency expects continued demand for airborne flight-test support as missile defense testing and system development continue into the 2030s.
L3Harris Technologies, formed through the 2019 merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation, is one of the largest U.S. defense contractors. Its Aeromet division has provided specialized airborne sensor support for the Missile Defense Agency for several years, supporting the collection of technical data used to evaluate and improve U.S. missile defense systems.
Source: defence-blog
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