- L3Harris Technologies was selected as a subcontractor to provide assured communications for the U.S. Air Force’s E-4C fleet under the Survivable Airborne Operations Center program.
- The five-year engineering and manufacturing development effort is led by SNC and contracted through Collins Aerospace, an RTX business.
L3Harris Technologies has been selected to provide assured communications support for the U.S. Air Force’s E-4C fleet as part of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center program, extending the company’s role in one of the military’s most sensitive command-and-control missions.
According to a press release, L3Harris Technologies will serve as a subcontractor on the SAOC effort, which is being led by SNC. The engineering and manufacturing development work awarded to L3Harris will span five years and was contracted through Collins Aerospace, an RTX business.
The SAOC program is designed to replace the current E-4B “Nightwatch” aircraft with the E-4C, ensuring the Air Force maintains an airborne command post capable of operating during national emergencies and high-end conflict. The aircraft is expected to support senior civilian and military leadership with secure, resilient communications in contested environments.
As part of the SNC-led team, L3Harris will support communication-suite integration for the E-4C fleet, bringing what the company describes as its latest resilient communications technologies to the platform. The work will expand L3Harris’ involvement across air, ground, and space communications tied to the SAOC mission.
Company says it will draw on more than 15 years of experience supporting the E-4C’s predecessor, the E-4B, along with its ongoing development of wideband communications technology. L3Harris stated that this background positions it to deliver upgraded systems capable of operating under difficult conditions, including environments where traditional communications may be disrupted.
“L3Harris will provide upgraded, state-of-the-art capabilities to ensure the E-4C fleet can successfully execute any mission,” said Lauren Barnes, president of Broadband Communications Systems at L3Harris. “Our open-system technology and vast portfolio of resilient waveforms will support seamless software upgrades and longevity for this vital program well into the future.”
The E-4C, operated by the U.S. Air Force, is expected to serve as a central node for national command authority communications, linking airborne, ground, and space-based systems. The SAOC aircraft must be able to function during crises that could degrade or deny access to fixed command centers.
L3Harris’ role in the SAOC effort continues its broader involvement in airborne and electronic warfare programs across the Department of War. The company said its portfolio includes leadership roles in the Advanced Battle Management System and the Next-Generation Jammer – Low Band program.
In addition, L3Harris delivers electronic warfare and communications technology for multiple Air Force platforms, including the F-16 Falcon, the EA-37B Compass Call, and the B-2 Spirit. These programs focus on maintaining connectivity, survivability, and situational awareness in contested environments.