Who Is L3Harris? The Company Behind the FAA's Air Traffic Control Communications Network
Updated: November 14, 2026
L3Harris Technologies has come under scrutiny following the nationwide flight ground stop issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on November 13, 2026.
The company operates the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI), a critical communications network that connects air traffic control facilities across the United States.
The network has become a focus of attention after communication problems disrupted flight departures nationwide, forcing the FAA to temporarily halt operations for safety reasons.
According to a report by CBS News, an update to the private communications network connecting America's air traffic control system reportedly caused the system to reboot and subsequently crash. Multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that L3Harris operates the network.
However, this account has not been independently confirmed by the FAA or L3Harris. The company had not immediately responded to requests for comment when the reports were published.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy separately attributed the disruption to overloaded switches and routers in the FAA's aging telecommunications infrastructure.
So, what is L3Harris, what does it actually do for the FAA, and could its network have been involved in the November 13 flight disruption?
Here is what is currently known.
What Is L3Harris Technologies?
L3Harris Technologies is an American aerospace and defense technology company headquartered in Melbourne, Florida.
The company was formed in June 2019 following the merger of Harris Corporation and L3 Technologies.
It provides technology and engineering solutions for government agencies, defense organizations, and commercial customers.
Its business covers several areas, including:
- Military and tactical communications.
- Aerospace and aviation systems.
- Surveillance and intelligence technologies.
- Space and satellite systems.
- Electronic warfare and cybersecurity.
- Air traffic management and communications infrastructure.
Although L3Harris is widely associated with defense and national security technology, its work also extends into civilian infrastructure.
One of its important government projects involves managing and modernizing the telecommunications network used by the FAA.
This is why the company has become part of the discussion surrounding the November 2026 aviation disruption.
What Is L3Harris' Role in the FAA Air Traffic Control System?
L3Harris is responsible for the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure, commonly known as FTI.
The FTI network provides communications infrastructure connecting FAA facilities throughout the United States.
It supports the transmission of critical information between air traffic control centers, airport facilities, radar installations, and other operational locations.
According to reporting by The Register, the network provides secure communications between more than 4,400 FAA facilities.
In practical terms, the network helps support the systems that air traffic controllers rely on to manage aircraft movements.
Its functions include supporting:
- Voice communications between air traffic control facilities.
- Data transmission between operational systems.
- Radar and surveillance information.
- Weather information.
- Flight data and other operational communications.
Without reliable communication infrastructure, air traffic controllers may have difficulty coordinating aircraft movements across different regions.
This makes FTI an important part of the wider National Airspace System (NAS).
However, it is important to understand that L3Harris does not control American airspace or make decisions about aircraft movements.
Those responsibilities remain with the FAA and its air traffic control personnel.
L3Harris provides and maintains an important part of the underlying telecommunications infrastructure.
How Did L3Harris Become Involved With the FAA?
The company's involvement dates back more than two decades.
In July 2002, Harris Corporation received a major FAA contract to develop and modernize the agency's telecommunications infrastructure.
The project was designed to consolidate communications services previously spread across multiple networks.
The original program covered thousands of FAA facilities and included the acquisition, operation, maintenance, and modernization of telecommunications equipment.
Harris Corporation subsequently became part of L3Harris following its merger with L3 Technologies in June 2019.
As a result, L3Harris inherited the company's long-standing role in the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure program.
The relationship has continued through successive modernization efforts and contract arrangements.
This history explains why L3Harris remains closely associated with the FAA's legacy communications network.
Did L3Harris Cause the November 13 FAA Ground Stop?
This is the most important question surrounding the company's involvement.
On November 13, 2026, the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop after communication problems affected multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
The disruption began at approximately 3:36 p.m. Eastern Time, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
During a White House briefing, Duffy explained that the FAA experienced instability involving radar and communications systems at its centers and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities.
He attributed the problem to overloaded switches and routers in the agency's older analog telecommunications network.
According to Duffy, the equipment began producing inconsistent data, making it difficult for controllers to rely on normal communications and radar operations.
The FAA subsequently halted departures as a precaution.
Reports Point to a Possible Network Update
CBS News reported that multiple sources said an update to the private communications network connecting the US air traffic control system caused the system to reboot.
According to those sources, the reboot led to a crash and communications outage.
CBS identified L3Harris as the company operating the network.
However, several important details remain unconfirmed.
The FAA has not publicly confirmed that an L3Harris software or network update directly caused the nationwide disruption.
It is also unclear who initiated the reported update, what specific equipment was involved, or why the system failed to recover normally.
During the November 13 briefing, Duffy described the failure as an overload involving legacy equipment but did not identify L3Harris as the cause.
Therefore, the available information does not establish that L3Harris was responsible for the outage.
The company's role as an infrastructure contractor and the reported involvement of its network should not be treated as proof of fault.
Why Is the FAA Still Using Older Telecommunications Technology?
The November 13 incident has also highlighted the challenges associated with America's aging air traffic control infrastructure.
One of the technologies mentioned by Duffy was Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), a telecommunications method that allows multiple signals to share a communication channel by assigning them different time slots.
Although TDM has supported telecommunications networks for decades, many modern systems now use Internet Protocol (IP)-based infrastructure.
According to Duffy, parts of the FAA's older network still rely on analog telecommunications technology and copper connections dating back to the 1980s.
The problem is not simply the age of the cables.
Legacy systems can be difficult to maintain, particularly when manufacturers discontinue components and replacement parts become harder to obtain.
The FAA also needs to ensure that older equipment can continue communicating with newer digital systems during the modernization process.
This creates a complicated technical environment in which old and new technologies must operate together.
L3Harris Is Already Modernizing the FAA's Network
Despite the concerns surrounding the outage, L3Harris has also been involved in replacing the infrastructure that supports the FAA's communications network.
On May 11, 2026, the company announced that it had completed more than 50% of its nationwide FTI modernization effort.
The project involves replacing decades-old copper connections with more modern telecommunications infrastructure.
According to L3Harris, the modernization includes:
High-speed fiber-optic connections.
Satellite communications for remote facilities.
Wireless technology where fiber installation is impractical.
Updated equipment at data hubs.
Enhanced network monitoring and cybersecurity capabilities.
The company also said it was deploying approximately 150 to 200 new network paths each month.
Its modernization approach involves building new infrastructure alongside existing systems, testing the replacement connections, and switching operations during coordinated low-traffic periods.
L3Harris said the program was on track for completion in 2027.
These figures and performance claims come from the company's own modernization announcement and have not been independently audited in this article.
The November outage nevertheless raises questions about how legacy and modernized systems interact during the transition.
Will AT&T Replace L3Harris in the FAA Telecommunications Network?
Another significant development is the FAA's plan to move toward a newer telecommunications architecture.
In August 2026, the FAA selected AT&T to lead the next-generation FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS) program.
The decision followed an earlier plan involving Verizon, which had previously been selected as the prime contractor for the project.
The FENS program is intended to replace the aging network architecture with a more modern, IP-based telecommunications backbone.
According to Aviation Week, the FAA awarded AT&T an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract on August 11, 2026.
The USASpending database also records a $74.3 million early-start development planning task order awarded to AT&T Enterprises.
The new infrastructure is expected to improve connectivity, network resilience, bandwidth, and the exchange of critical aviation information.
However, the transition is not immediate.
The existing FTI network remains in service while the FAA works toward implementing the replacement infrastructure.
L3Harris is therefore still involved in maintaining and modernizing the current network while the longer-term transition moves forward.
The development marks an important change in the FAA's telecommunications strategy, although it does not mean that L3Harris has already stopped providing FTI services.
Could the FAA Outage Happen Again?
The November 13 incident has raised questions about the reliability of the network and the effectiveness of its backup systems.
A modern aviation communications network needs more than fast connections.
It also requires redundancy, meaning alternative communication paths must be available when primary equipment or connections fail.
The FAA needs to ensure that a problem affecting one component does not create widespread disruptions across multiple facilities.
During the White House briefing, Duffy acknowledged that similar failures could occur again while older systems remain in service.
He also said that the newly installed IP-based switches did not experience the same problems as the legacy equipment.
This has strengthened calls for additional investment in the FAA's modernization program.
The challenge is ensuring that new infrastructure can be introduced without creating additional operational risks during the transition.
What Happens Next in the L3Harris FAA Network Investigation?
Several important questions remain unanswered following the nationwide ground stop.
The FAA and other government agencies will need to establish exactly what caused the communication instability and why it affected multiple air traffic control centers.
The most important issues to watch include:
1. The reported network update
Investigators need to determine whether an update to the private communications network actually triggered the reboot described by CBS News.
2. The specific equipment failure
The FAA has referred to overloaded switches and routers, but has not publicly identified the precise equipment or technical sequence responsible.
3. Backup network performance
Investigators should establish why existing backup arrangements were unable to prevent the disruption from spreading across the national network.
4. L3Harris' response
The company's technical explanation and any additional information about its network operations could help clarify its role in the incident.
5. The transition to AT&T's FENS network
The incident could increase pressure on the FAA to accelerate the replacement of legacy telecommunications infrastructure.
Until further evidence is released, it would be premature to conclude that L3Harris caused the nationwide outage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is L3Harris Technologies?
L3Harris Technologies is an American aerospace and defense technology company headquartered in Melbourne, Florida. It provides communications, surveillance, aerospace, defense, and other mission-critical technology solutions.
What does L3Harris do for the FAA?
L3Harris manages the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI), a network supporting communications between FAA facilities, including air traffic control centers, radar sites, and other aviation facilities.
Did L3Harris cause the FAA nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026?
There is currently no confirmed evidence establishing that L3Harris caused the disruption. CBS News reported that a network update reportedly triggered a reboot and communications failure, but the account has not been confirmed by the FAA or L3Harris.
What is the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI)?
FTI is the telecommunications network supporting voice and data communications across the FAA's national airspace infrastructure. It helps connect operational facilities and supports the exchange of critical aviation information.
Is L3Harris replacing the FAA's old telecommunications network?
L3Harris has been modernizing the existing FTI network by replacing older copper connections with fiber, wireless, and satellite infrastructure. However, the FAA has also selected AT&T to lead the next-generation FENS program, which is intended to replace the aging network architecture.
Will AT&T replace L3Harris?
AT&T has been selected to lead the next-generation FENS program. The transition is still underway, and the existing FTI network remains operational while the replacement infrastructure is developed and implemented.
Is the FAA communications outage related to a cyberattack?
US officials said they had found no evidence of a cyberattack during the initial investigation. However, the precise technical cause of the November 13 outage remained under investigation.
Sources and Further Reading
- Federal Aviation Administration – Statement on Nationwide Ground Stop
- US Department of Transportation – Sean Duffy Announces Lifting of Nationwide Ground Stop
- CBS News – FAA Lifts Nationwide Ground Stop, White House Says No Indication of Nefarious Act
- L3Harris – FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI)
- L3Harris – Reaches Over 50% in FAA Telecommunications Modernization
- Aviation Week – FAA Taps AT&T to Build Its Next Telecom Backbone
- Reuters – US Flight Shutdown Exposes Deepening Air Traffic Network Crisis
- Nacionale – What Is L3Harris? Its Link to the FAA Ground Stop
- USASpending – FAA Enterprise Network Services Contract Award to AT&T
