L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) celebrated the completion of a $125 million expansion of its space manufacturing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on April 16, 2025, with a dedication ceremony attended by Indiana’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Marlin Stutzman. The 95,000-square-foot TAC4 addition, designed by Design Collaborative and started in early 2023, includes 41,000 square feet of clean rooms and supports engineering, integration, testing, and program management for missile defense and civil weather programs. With a capacity to produce 48 infrared sensing payloads annually, the facility bolsters the U.S. Department of Defense’s “Golden Dome” initiative, a space-based missile defense shield targeting ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. L3Harris, holding over $2 billion in contracts for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer and Missile Defense Agency’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS), currently has five satellites in orbit and 34 in development. The expansion is expected to create 150-200 jobs, boosting Fort Wayne’s economy, where manufacturing employs over 20,000 workers. Ed Zoiss, President of Space and Airborne Systems, emphasized its role in “accelerating national security capabilities.”

For the precision machining industry, the facility’s focus on payload fabrication drives demand for high-precision components critical to space-based systems. Infrared sensing payloads require intricately machined parts, such as sensor housings and optical mounts, crafted with 5-axis CNC milling and laser cutting to achieve micron-level tolerances for extreme orbital conditions. Payload fabrication involves precision grinding and EDM (electrical discharge machining) to produce lightweight titanium and composite structures, ensuring reliability in missile tracking. The facility’s high-throughput production pushes local machine shops to adopt automated machining systems and real-time quality control, fostering innovation in advanced alloys and additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping. As part of a $60 billion space manufacturing market, this expansion creates opportunities for suppliers in Indiana, where manufacturing output grew 3% since 2023, strengthening supply chains and advancing precision machining expertise for defense applications.

Source:

L3Harris Technologies Press Release, April 16, 2025

Source:

Building Indiana Business

Social Media Buzz (powered by X):

X is abuzz with L3Harris’ Fort Wayne facility expansion, with posts on April 27, 2025, calling it a “major win” for U.S. defense. Users praised the 150-200 jobs, with one noting “Golden Dome tech starts here,” while another highlighted “Indiana’s manufacturing surge.” The excitement reflects strong support for national security and regional economic growth.

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