L3Harris' UK-Based Release and Integrated Solutions Business Builds on 70 Years of Success

The company has designed and developed industry-leading carriage and release systems for fighter jets, rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned platforms and the commercial aviation market for decades. Its mission-critical release system equipment is on most major NATO airborne fighter platforms, including the F-35 Lightning II, Gripen E and Eurofighter Typhoon.

From precision-guided munitions carried on jets to micro-munitions launched from UAVs during counterinsurgency operations, L3Harris actively collaborates with customers to provide mission success to warfighters.

“The team draws on more than 70 years of experience and expertise to ensure our global allies have the tools they need to succeed in any operational environment,” said Graeme Mackay, Vice President of L3Harris U.K. Operations. “L3Harris weapons release equipment has evolved from simple mechanical devices to sophisticated pneumatic release units for both air-to-ground and air-to-air operations.”

The company’s reputation for excellence is built on strong customer collaboration and systems that work flawlessly when it matters most.

“Our connector cable, used widely across NATO platforms, has never had an operational failure,” Mackay said. “That’s a track record that we’re proud of, and we want to keep that reputation. We all have ties to the end user, whether it’s someone we know or we’re veterans ourselves. We take our customers’ mission to heart.”

L3Harris U.K. has been formally recognised by BAE Systems as a Tempest Partner on the U.K.’s Future Combat Air Systems programme and is continuing to support the sixth-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

L3Harris’ latest release units and launchers offer critical differentiators, such as:

• ITAR-Free: L3Harris systems produced in Brighton, U.K., provide global market access, simplified export processes and reduced costs, ensuring seamless support. From UAVs to GCAP, L3Harris collaborates with customers to develop advanced defence capabilities and enhance interoperability among allied forces.
• Flexible: L3Harris’ portfolio includes designs for a variety of weapons classes (less than 25 lbs./11 kg. to 2,000 lbs./900 kg.), release-energy sources (gravity, pyrotechnic, pneumatic, electromechanical) and pylon-mounted or internal carriage.
• Modular: Modular Open Systems Architecture allows for rapid reconfiguration and Universal Armament Interfaces enable integration with legacy, updated and new aircraft and weapons.
• Smart: Jam-resistant MIL-STD-1760 weapon interface connector that significantly contributes to the success of mission-critical operations, ensuring optimal levels of reliability, secure release and connectivity, including high-speed fibre optics.
• Affordable: Multi-Station Launchers provide a scalable solution to the challenge of increasing payload carriage within weapon bays and under wings.

“We work proactively with weapon and platform primes to give them exactly what they need when they need it,” Mackay said. “We help them design, develop, manufacture and modify applications – often around something we have or can develop from an off-the-shelf product.”

The Brighton facility offers a fully equipped design lab as well as 48,500 square feet (approximately 4,506 square metres) for manufacturing, assembly and test stations. It is Facility Security Cleared (FSC) with Protected Status and its engineering team is Design Approved Organization Scheme (DAOS) certified in developing non-ITAR, U.K. products.

“Our team and our technologies are very versatile,” Mackay said. “We’re leveraging our legacy as much as possible to give customers new but familiar systems they can trust.”