L3Harris wins contract to supply proximity fuzes

L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a contract valued up to $98 million by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division to deliver the Department of War’s Mechanical Proximity Fuze for upgrades to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System.

The Mechanical Proximity Fuze is designed to provide precision, adaptability and affordability against emerging unmanned aerial threats across varied environments. The upgrade enables existing launch platforms to serve as low-cost, effective counter-unmanned aerial system weapons and is intended to improve the likelihood of detonation at the most effective point of impact.

“With the U.S. military prioritizing proven, cost-effective capabilities to counter fast-moving threats, L3Harris’ Mechanical Proximity Fuze has emerged as the trusted solution of choice,” said Scott Alexander, President, Missile Propulsion, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. “This award reflects our capability to respond with speed and reliability as we expand production capacity and strengthen industrial resilience to support critical missions.”

The firm-fixed-price contract includes options that would bring the cumulative value to $98 million. The Mechanical Proximity Fuze is also referred to as the Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance (FALCO) Proximity Fuze.

Rising demand for FALCO is prompting the company to increase proximity fuze production sevenfold. Investments in tooling, modernized inspection equipment and an expanded supplier base are expected to enable a twentyfold increase in capacity to meet current U.S. military needs and anticipated future demand.

L3Harris plans to produce the proximity fuzes in Cincinnati, Ohio, and notes a history of providing advanced fuzes and safe-and-arm solutions across multiple domains for more than 70 years.