L3Harris has built a $100 million center in Florida for the Golden Dome, and that's just the beginning

New Satellite Testing Center in Palm Bay

The American defense giant L3Harris Technologies has launched a new satellite integration and testing center in Palm Bay, Florida, a 94,000-square—foot facility known as Building 31. Its cost is 100 million dollars. This is not just another building.: It was created to work with critical systems, including to support the national missile defense program, which is informally called the Golden Dome.

Here, satellites will be assembled, tested and prepared for launch, which will have to see the rockets even in the launch phase.

Golden Dome Support — How it Works

Although construction began even before the Golden Dome became a public initiative, L3Harris immediately relied on promising technologies. The Palm Bay center will test satellites that will become part of a multi-layered space network. These devices are supposed to detect ballistic and hypersonic missiles, track their trajectory and transmit data to land and sea missile defense systems.

Without such centers — with high-precision equipment and a controlled environment — it would be too risky to launch satellites into space. A mistake on Earth is better than a failure in orbit.

Two factories, 200 jobs and high salaries

Building 31 is only part of the plan. The second facility to be built on the same campus is a 98,000—square-foot state-of-the-art microelectronics center. It will produce a "brain" for satellites: microcircuits capable of withstanding radiation, temperature changes and harsh space conditions. Production will be located in a clean room, which is a prerequisite for such technologies.

Both projects will create about 200 new jobs. The average salary ranges from 105 to 111 thousand dollars per year. These are not just assembly line workers, but engineers, technicians, test and micro-design specialists.

Why Florida is Becoming America's Space Hub

Palm Bay is not a random choice. It is only 45 minutes from Cape Canaveral, where SpaceX, ULA, and others launch. The proximity to launch sites, well-developed infrastructure, and state support (including tax incentives) make the region attractive to defense and space companies.

L3Harris has been here for a long time, but is now expanding — because the demand for space defense has grown dramatically. And Florida is becoming not only a rocket launch site, but also a place where these rockets and satellites are assembled, tested and prepared for combat.

Sources

1. Zavtra Newspaper – overview of L3Harris expansion in Palm Bay and its support for the “Golden Dome”.
2. CNews – satellite technologies and L3Harris’s role in U.S. space & defense infrastructure.
3. Axios and additional reports cited confirm investment scale and the center’s national-security function.

Raytheon has received a $536 million contract to upgrade SPY-6 radars for US Navy destroyers

SPY-6 radar antenna arrays

Raytheon, part of RTX Corporation, has received a $536 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the production and modernization of the SPY-6 family of radars. This contract is a continuation of an earlier agreement and includes the integration and support of production, as well as the modernization of the Flight IIA destroyers using option (V)4.

"SPY-6 is the most advanced radar in the U.S. Navy, providing ships with a new level of protection against evolving threats," said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. She stressed that this contract reflects the important role of SPY-6 technology in the long-term technological roadmap of the US Navy.

To date, the SPY-6 system has already been installed on two new ships of the US Navy, and in 2025 it is planned to equip three more ships that will undergo various stages of testing. It is expected that the work under the contract will be completed by May 2026.

The SPY-6 radar provides improved detection and tracking of air and sea targets, as well as effective counteraction to modern threats, including hypersonic missiles and sophisticated electronic warfare systems. The modernization of the Flight IIA destroyers will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the fleet and strengthen the US defense capability at sea.

The United States has approved the sale of over $300 million worth of advanced AIM-120 and AIM-9X missiles to Turkey

 

The U.S. State Department has officially approved the sale of high-tech air-launched missiles to Turkey for a total of 304.1 million dollars, according to two notices published by the U.S. Security and Defense Cooperation Agency (DSCA) May 14th. This decision marks an important step in strengthening military-technical cooperation between the two countries, despite previous disagreements.

As part of the agreement, Turkey will receive 53 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) produced by RTX, which is estimated at 225 million dollars. Additionally, it is planned to supply 60 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II melee missiles worth 79.1 million dollars. The package also includes the necessary equipment for the integration of weapons on combat aircraft, as well as staff training and logistical support.

AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are one of the most modern and effective medium-range air combat systems equipped with an active radar guidance head. The C-8 model is characterized by improved performance in conditions of strong counteraction and electronic warfare. AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, in turn, provide superiority in maneuverable aerial combat due to their high accuracy and the shot-and-forget capability.

This deal underscores the desire of the United States to keep Turkey a strategic partner, especially against the background of its participation in NATO and the complex geopolitical realities associated with conflicts in the region and the confrontation with Russia.

It is expected that the implementation of the contract will begin after passing all the stages of approval by the US Congress and coordinating supplies with the Turkish side.

The US Air Force has completed a key stage of nuclear modernization: successful testing of the MH-139 Grey Wolf

 

MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter

The US Air Force has reached an important milestone in the nuclear forces modernization program by successfully completing the Nuclear Convoy 2025 (NCC) course. The event took place from March 30 to April 18, 2025 at the Camp Guernsey, Wyoming Joint Training Center. This course became particularly significant as it focused on testing the capabilities of the new MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter, designed to ensure the safety of transporting components of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The MH-139 Grey Wolf is a next-generation helicopter designed to replace the legacy UH-1N Huey models. The new helicopter is equipped with modern technologies, including improved navigation, communication and protection systems, which makes it more efficient in carrying out tasks related to the protection and transportation of nuclear assets. As part of the NCC course, tests were conducted to assess the ability of the MH-139 Grey Wolf to withstand modern threats and carry out missions in difficult conditions.

The nuclear convoy course is part of a large-scale modernization program for the US nuclear forces, which includes updating the entire infrastructure related to ICBMs, as well as introducing new technologies to improve safety and reliability. The successful completion of the NCC confirmed the Air Force's willingness to integrate the MH-139 Grey Wolf into its operations, which will be an important step in strengthening national defense.

The introduction of the MH-139 Grey Wolf is of strategic importance not only for the United States, but also for the entire world. Modern geopolitical challenges require the countries-powers to increase the level of security of their nuclear arsenals. The new helicopter will allow the US Air Force to more effectively protect its ICBM bases and respond to any potential threats.

In addition, the nuclear modernization program demonstrates the U.S. commitment to investing in future defense technologies. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between the military, industry, and academia to develop cutting-edge solutions that meet modern security requirements.

China is developing a powerful machine gun to combat hypersonic weapons

 China is developing what could become the most powerful machine gun in the world, a groundbreaking project designed to counter one of the most formidable challenges in modern warfare: hypersonic weapons. 

Introduced as a multi-barrel weapon system as part of the Metal Storm project, the new Chinese development is said to be superior to the Phalanx (CIWS) melee system The U.S. Navy, offering a high-speed, large-scale solution to intercept and neutralize hypersonic threats. 

These next-generation weapons are being developed by defense scientists from China's Northern University and represent a significant leap in both firepower and technological innovation.

Metal Storm