{"id":34114,"date":"2022-11-01T18:13:05","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T18:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2022\/11\/01\/l3harris-ceo-says-viasat-link-16-assets-are-jadc2-accelerant\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:31:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:31:37","slug":"l3harris-ceo-says-viasat-link-16-assets-are-jadc2-accelerant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/industry\/2022\/11\/01\/l3harris-ceo-says-viasat-link-16-assets-are-jadc2-accelerant\/","title":{"rendered":"L3Harris CEO says Viasat Link 16 assets are JADC2 \u2018accelerant\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Buying Viasat\u2019s tactical data links business will help realize L3Harris Technologies\u2019 joint all-domain command and control ambitions and will likely push the company up the defense contracting ladder, according to CEO Chris Kubasik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prospective $1.96 billion purchase of the Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System platforms, their associated terminals and space assets \u201cfits nicely in our comms- and networking-centric portfolio,\u201d enabling the company to bring the Pentagon\u2019s JADC2 effort \u201cto life,\u201d he said Oct. 28 during a conference call to discuss third-quarter financial results<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt gives us the footprint on 20,000-plus platforms, and real estate matters on these platforms, whether they\u2019re aircraft or ships or other platforms. We\u2019ll be able to modernize and upgrade Link 16. We\u2019ll be able to work in other waveforms and focus on resiliency,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s just an accelerant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CEO and Chairman Chris Kubasik (L3Harris Technologies)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

JADC2 is the Defense Department\u2019s vision for a seamlessly connected military<\/a>, one where information flows quickly and securely to friendly forces across land, air, sea, space and cyber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army, Air Force and Navy each have their own contributions to the multibillion-dollar endeavor: Project Convergence, the Advanced Battle Management System and Project Overmatch, respectively. L3Harris in mid-September was named to the ABMS Digital Infrastructure Consortium alongside four other companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The L3Harris-Viasat deal<\/a> was unveiled shortly after, on Oct. 3. It is expected to close in the first half of 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStrategically, I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better first acquisition. This was pretty straightforward and pretty easy,\u201d Kubasik said. \u201cIt fits perfectly into our portfolio, fills a gap that we had. It ties into JADC2, networks, comms, everything we\u2019re known for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pending sale is expected to net Viasat<\/a> $1.8 billion, after taxes and other payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data link business, part of Viasat\u2019s Government Systems division, generated some $400 million in yearly revenue. Link 16 \u2014 a secure, jam-resistant and high-speed line of communication used across domains and by NATO \u2014 accounts for one-third of Viasat\u2019s government business.<\/p>\n\n\n\t