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Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Report.
We assess and identify material risks from cybersecurity threats primarily through the work of our Global Technology and Business Solutions organization, which is fully integrated in our enterprise risk management (“ERM”) process in close partnership with other functions such as Engineering, Industrial Security, Internal Audit, and Legal. The ERM process, administered by management with input from each business segment and function, continuously monitors material risks facing L3Harris, including cybersecurity threats.Our Global Technology and Business Solutions organization, is led by our Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), who has extensive experience leading information technology for global organizations across aerospace, defense and industrials, and works directly with our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and other members of senior management to assess cybersecurity threats as part of the ERM process. The CIO oversees the internal cybersecurity organization of more than 100 full-time employees headed by our Chief Information Security Officer (our “Cybersecurity Team”).
While we have implemented robust practices to mitigate cybersecurity risks, and prior cybersecurity threats have not materially affected our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition, we could be negatively impacted by a cybersecurity breach, through cyber-attack, cyber intrusion, insider threats, supply chain incidents, or otherwise, or other significant disruption of our IT networks and related systems or of those we operate for certain of our customers. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Report for further discussion of specific risks related to cybersecurity threats.The Audit Committee provides regular oversight and review of our ERM process and other guidelines and policies governing the processes by which our CEO and senior management assess our exposure to risk, including risk from cybersecurity threats. The Audit Committee receives regular briefings from our CIO , Chief Information Security Officer and other members of senior management on cybersecurity threats and related matters and provides oversight and review of our ERM process.
Government Contracts. In fiscal 2025, the percentage of our revenue that was derived from sales to U.S. Government customers, whether directly or through prime contractors, including foreign military sales funded through the U.S. Government, was 75% and no other customer accounted for more than 5% of our revenue. Additional information regarding customers for each of our segments is provided under “Item 1. Business — Description of Business Segments” of this Report.
Cost-type contracts. Our U.S. Government cost-type contracts provide for the reimbursement of allowable costs plus payment of a fee and fall into three basic types: (i) cost-plus fixed-fee contracts, which provide for payment of a fixed fee irrespective of the final cost of performance; (ii) cost-plus incentive-fee contracts, which provide for payment of a fee that may increase or decrease, within specified limits, based on actual results compared with contractual targets relating to factors such as cost, performance and delivery schedule; and (iii) cost-plus award-fee contracts, which provide for payment of an award fee determined at the customer’s discretion based on our performance against pre-established performance criteria. Under our U.S. Government cost-type contracts, we are reimbursed periodically for allowable costs and are paid a portion of the fee based on contract progress. Some costs are partially or wholly unallowable for reimbursement by statute or regulation. Examples include certain merger and acquisition costs, lobbying costs, charitable contributions, interest expense, financing costs and certain litigation defense costs.
Fixed-price contracts. Our U.S. Government fixed-price contracts are either firm fixed-price contracts or fixed-price incentive contracts. Under our U.S. Government firm fixed-price contracts, we agree to perform a specific scope of work or sell a specific product for a fixed price and, as a result, benefit from cost savings or carry the burden of cost overruns. Under our U.S. Government fixed-price incentive contracts, we share with the U.S. Government both savings accrued for performance at less than target cost as well as costs incurred in excess of target cost up to a negotiated ceiling price, which is higher than the target cost, but carry the entire burden of costs exceeding the negotiated ceiling price. Under such incentive contracts, profit may also be adjusted up or down depending on whether specified performance objectives are met. Under our U.S. Government firm fixed-price and fixed-price incentive contracts, we generally receive either milestone payments totaling 100% of the contract price or monthly progress payments in amounts equaling 80% of costs incurred under the contract. The remaining amounts, including profits or incentive fees, are billed upon delivery and final acceptance of end items and deliverables under the contract.
Our production contracts are mainly fixed-price contracts and development contracts are generally cost-type contracts, although we have some fixed-price development contracts. Time-and-material contracts are considered fixed-price contracts as they specify a fixed hourly rate for each labor hour charged.
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For further discussion of risks relating to U.S. Government contracts, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Report.
Environmental. Our operations are subject to and affected by U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. We have incurred and, based on currently available information, we expect to continue to incur capital and operating costs to comply with existing and pending environmental laws and regulations. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” of this Report and Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies and Note 15: Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes.
Acquisition Reform
We are pursuing our Trusted Disruptor strategy against the backdrop of acquisition reform, prioritizing engaging with our customers and delivering the innovation, agility and affordability our customers demand from the defense industrial base. Recent reforms to the U.S. Government’s acquisition strategy, including the transformation of the Defense Acquisition System into the Warfighting Acquisition System, are fundamentally shifting procurement priorities toward speed, flexibility, and mission outcomes. Under this new approach, the DoW is streamlining contracting processes, delegating greater authority to empowered portfolio acquisition executives, and increasing the use of commercial solutions and alternative contracting methods to accelerate the delivery of urgently needed capabilities. These changes are designed to expand competition, incentivize private investment, and enhance supply chain resilience, which may result in new opportunities and requirements for defense contractors, as well as increased emphasis on rapid innovation and responsiveness in fulfilling government contracts.
Materials, Suppliers and Seasonality
Because of the diversity of our products and services, as well as the wide geographic dispersion of our facilities, we use numerous sources for the wide array of materials, such as electronic components, printed circuit boards, metals and plastics needed for our operations and products. We depend on suppliers and subcontractors for a large number of components and subsystems. We also rely on a limited number of certified microelectronics component suppliers for our products. We have experienced component shortages from vendors as a result of the global pandemic, natural disasters, or the shifting regulatory landscape. These events or regulations may cause a spike in demand for certain electronic components resulting in industry-wide supply chain disruptions. For further discussion of risks relating to subcontractors and suppliers, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Report.
We do not consider any material portion of our business to be seasonal. Various factors can affect the distribution of our revenue between accounting periods, including the timing of contract awards and the timing and availability of U.S. Government funding, as well as the timing of product deliveries and customer acceptance.
Human Capital
Our success depends on our skilled workforce. Attracting, developing, motivating and retaining highly-skilled people, particularly those with technical, engineering and science backgrounds, and in many cases, security clearances, is critical to our ability to execute our strategic priorities. We use human capital measures to set goals and monitor performance in several areas, including health and safety and talent.
Workforce Demographics. Workforce Demographics. We had approximately 45,000 employees as of January 2, 2026, including approximately 18,000 engineers and scientists. Of our total employees, 90% were located in the U.S. As of January 2, 2026, approximately 2,600, or 6%, of our U.S. employees were covered by various collective bargaining agreements, which we expect will be renegotiated as they expire, as we historically have done without significant disruption to operating activities.
Health and Safety. We prioritize the safety of our employees through maintaining a proactive safety culture and implementing programs designed to eliminate workplace incidents, risks and hazards. Throughout the year, we review and monitor our performance closely to reduce incidents. Throughout the year, we review and monitor our performance closely to reduce Occupational Safety and Health Administration reportable incidents.
Talent Strategy. We are focused on ensuring we maintain a balanced talent portfolio. Attracting new perspectives, ideas and capabilities, recognizing and rewarding performance, offering professional development and career growth opportunities, and providing an engaging employee experience that retains talent are strategic priorities. We strive to attract employees in all stages of their careers.
We hired approximately 6,000 new employees in fiscal 2025. We offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefit packages, including health care, retirement planning and employer retirement contributions, educational assistance, child and elder back-up care, paid parental leave, and a discretionary paid time off program.
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Available Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 1025 West NASA Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32919. Our website address is https://www.l3harris.com.
Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, proxy statements, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports are available free of charge on our website https://www.l3harris.com/investors, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We also will provide the reports in electronic or paper form, free of charge, upon written request. Our website and the information posted thereon are not incorporated into this Report or any current or other periodic report that we file with or furnish to the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including L3Harris, that file electronically with the SEC.
Additional information regarding our human capital strategy and sustainability goals are available in our 2025 Sustainability Report which we expect to be published in fiscal 2026 on our company website. Information on our website, including our 2025 Sustainability Report, is not incorporated by reference into this Report.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Report, including “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that may not materialize or prove correct, which could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements concerning: our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations; new products, systems, technologies, services or developments; future economic conditions, performance or outlook; future political conditions; the outcome of contingencies or litigation; environmental remediation cost estimates; the potential level of share repurchases, dividends or pension contributions; potential acquisitions or divestitures; the integration of our acquisitions; the value of contract awards and programs; expected revenue; expected cash flows or capital expenditures; our beliefs or expectations; activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future; and assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may be identified by their use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects” and similar words or expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s opinions only as of the date of filing of this Report and are not guarantees of future performance or actual results. Factors that might cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements, from our current expectations or projections or from our historical results include, but are not limited to, those discussed in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” most notably those listed in the following section of this Report. All forward-looking statements are qualified by, and should be read in conjunction with, those risk factors. Forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are made as of the date of filing of this Report, and we disclaim any intention or obligation, other than imposed by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise, after the date of filing of this Report or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document.
| ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS. | ||||
Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity are subject to, and could be materially adversely affected by, various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those set forth below, any one of which could cause our actual results to vary materially from recent results or our anticipated future results.
Macroeconomic, Industry and Governmental Risks
We depend on winning profitable business in competitive markets from U.S. Government customers for a significant portion of our revenue. We are highly dependent on revenue from U.S. Government customers, primarily defense-related programs with the DoW and other government agencies.
The market for sales to U.S. Government customers is highly competitive and the U.S. Government may choose to use other contractors as part of competitive bidding processes or otherwise. The U.S. Government has increasingly relied on certain types of contracts that are subject to multiple competitive bidding processes, including multi-vendor indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (“IDIQ”), government-wide acquisition contracts, General
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Services Administration Schedules and other multi-award contracts, which has resulted in greater competition and increased pricing pressure. The DoW’s current procurement reform initiative, including the increased use of other transaction authority (“OTA”) agreements, could reduce barriers to entry and result in even greater competition and increased pricing pressure. OTAs are not subject to many traditional procurement laws, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”), and in some instances, an OTA award may require that a significant part of the work be carried out by a non-traditional defense contractor or that a portion of the prototype project's costs be covered by non-governmental sources. Some of our competitors, including non-traditional new entrants to defense-related programs, have greater financial resources than we do and may have more extensive or more specialized engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we do in some areas. We may not be able to continue to win competitively awarded contracts or to obtain task orders under multi-award contracts, especially with increased competition. We may not be able to continue to win competitively awarded contracts or to obtain task orders under multi-award contracts. We may choose not to bid in certain competitive bidding processes, which would result in the potential loss of opportunities, or we may choose to partner with competitors, which could expose our business to additional factors beyond our control. We may choose not to bid in certain competitive bidding processes, which would result in the potential loss of opportunities. Additionally, bid protests from unsuccessful bidders can result in significant expense or delay, contract modification or contract rescission as a result of our competitors protesting or challenging contracts awarded to us.
A reduction in U.S. Government funding or a change in U.S. Government spending priorities could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. Our U.S. Government programs must compete with programs managed by other government contractors and with other policy imperatives for consideration for limited resources and for uncertain levels of funding during the budget and appropriations process. Although multi-year contracts may be authorized and appropriated in connection with major procurements, Congress generally appropriates funds on a U.S. Government fiscal year (“GFY”) basis. Procurement funds are typically disbursed over the course of one to three years. Consequently, programs often initially receive only partial funding, and additional funds are obligated only as Congress authorizes further appropriations.
We cannot predict the extent to which total funding and/or funding for individual programs will be changed as part of the annual appropriations process ultimately approved by Congress and the President or in separate supplemental appropriations or continuing resolutions, as applicable. Budget and appropriations decisions made by the U.S. Government are outside of our control and may have long-term consequences for our business. U.S. Government spending priorities and levels remain uncertain and difficult to predict. This uncertainty could be exacerbated by procurement reform initiatives that could result in more frequent changes to program funding, scope, or priorities, increasing the risk of contract modifications, terminations, or delays, and making it more difficult to forecast revenue and resource needs. A change in U.S. Government spending priorities or an increase in non-procurement spending at the expense of our programs, or a reduction in total U.S. Government spending on an absolute or inflation-adjusted basis, could have material adverse consequences on our current or future business.
Any inability of the U.S. Government to complete its budget process for any GFY and resulting operation on funding levels equivalent to its prior fiscal year pursuant to a Continuing Resolution (“CR”) or shut down, also could have material adverse consequences on our current or future business. For more information see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - U.S. and International Budget Environment” of this Report.
Our results of operations and cash flows are substantially affected by our contract mix.Our results of operations and cash flows are substantially affected by our mix of fixed-price, cost-type and time-and-material type contracts. Fixed-price contracts, particularly for development programs, could subject us to losses from cost overruns or inflation. In fiscal 2025, 75% of our revenue was derived from fixed-price contracts that allow us to benefit from cost savings, but subject us to the risk of potential cost overruns, including due to greater than anticipated or a sustained period of increased inflation or unexpected delays because we assume all of the cost burden. If our initial estimates are incorrect, we can lose money (or make more or less money than estimated) on these contracts. Fixed-price U.S. Government contracts can expose us to potentially large losses because the U.S. Government can hold us responsible for completing a project or, in limited circumstances, paying the entire cost of its replacement by another provider.
Contracts for development programs include complex design and technical requirements and are generally contracted on a cost-type basis, however, some existing development programs are contracted on a fixed-price basis or include cost-type contracting for the development phase with fixed-price production options.Contracts for development programs include complex design and technical requirements and are generally contracted on a cost-reimbursable basis, however, some existing development programs are contracted on a fixed-price basis or include cost-type contracting for the development phase with fixed-price production options. Because many of these contracts involve new technologies and applications and can last for years, unforeseen events, such as technological difficulties, increases in the price of materials, a significant increase in or a sustained period of increased inflation, problems with our suppliers, labor market conditions and cost overruns, can result in less favorable economics or even losses over time (which, especially in the case of sharp and significant sustained inflation, could happen quickly and have long lasting impacts). Furthermore, if we do not meet contract deadlines or specifications, we may need to renegotiate contracts on less favorable terms, be forced to pay penalties or liquidated damages or suffer losses if the customer exercises its right to terminate. Some of our contracts have
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provisions relating to cost controls and audit rights, and if we fail to meet the terms specified in those contracts, we may not realize their full benefits. Cost overruns would adversely impact our results of operations, which are dependent on our ability to maximize our earnings from our contracts, and the potential risk would be greater if our contracts shifted toward a greater percentage of fixed-price contracts, particularly firm fixed-price contracts, as opposed to cost-type and time-and-material contracts.
To the extent feasible, we have consistently followed the practice of contractually adjusting our prices to reflect the impact of inflation on salaries and fringe benefits for employees and the cost of purchased materials and services and in some cases seeking the inclusion of adjustment clauses to incorporate certain cost adjustments in fixed-price contracts for unexpected inflation. However, we may not be successful in accurately accounting for all increased costs, and our fixed-price contracts could subject us to losses in the event of cost overruns or a significant increase in or a sustained period of increased inflation if we are unable to account for and receive cost adjustments in our fixed-price contracts.
Any or all of the foregoing could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
The application or impact of negative audit findings, contract termination, unilateral government action, or regulation on our government contracts could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.The application or impact of regulations, unilateral government action, termination or negative audit findings for one or more of our contracts could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. U.S. Government contracts are generally subject to U.S. Government oversight audits, which could result in adjustments to our contract costs. Any costs found to be improperly allocated to a specific contract will not be reimbursed, and such costs already reimbursed must be refunded. We have recorded contract revenue based on costs we expect to realize upon final audit. However, we do not know the outcome of any future audits and adjustments, and we may be required to materially reduce our revenue or profits upon completion and final negotiation of audits. Negative audit findings could also result in termination of a contract, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines or suspension or debarment from U.S. Government contracting or subcontracting for a period of time.
In addition, U.S. Government contracts generally contain provisions permitting termination, in whole or in part, without prior notice at the U.S. Government’s convenience upon payment only for work done and commitments made at the time of termination. For some contracts, we are a subcontractor and the U.S. Government could terminate the prime contractor for convenience without regard for our performance as a subcontractor. We may be unable to secure new contracts to offset revenue or contractual backlog lost as a result of any termination of our U.S. Government contracts.
From time to time, we may begin performance of a U.S. Government contract under an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed price before the terms, specifications or price are agreed to between the parties. In these arrangements, the U.S. Government has the ability to unilaterally definitize the contract if a mutual agreement regarding terms, specifications and price cannot be reached. These uncertainties or loss of negotiating leverage associated with long delays could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
Our business with government customers is also subject to a variety of procurement regulations and a variety of socioeconomic, environmental and other requirements that increase our operational and compliance costs, including governmental action through Executive Orders. These costs might increase in the future, particularly for certain international markets and customers, thereby reducing our margins.
Failure to comply with applicable regulations and requirements could lead to fines, penalties, repayments or compensatory or treble damages, or suspension or debarment from U.S. Government contracting or subcontracting for a period of time. The termination of a U.S. Government contract or relationship in particular as a result of any of these acts would have an adverse impact on our operations and could have an adverse effect on our standing and eligibility for future U.S. Government contracts.
Because a significant portion of our revenue is dependent on our performance and payment under our government contracts, the loss of one or more large contracts could have a significant adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. Because a significant portion of our revenue is dependent on our performance and payment under our US Government contracts, the loss of one or more large contracts could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
We participate in markets that are often subject to uncertain economic conditions, which makes it difficult to estimate growth in our markets and, as a result, future income and expenditures. We participate in U.S. and international markets that are subject to uncertain economic conditions which could experience increasing price sensitivity due to economic conditions or seek solutions which could adversely affect demand for our products, systems, services or technologies. As a result of that uncertainty, it is difficult to develop accurate estimates of the level of growth in the markets we serve. As a result of that uncertainty, it is difficult to develop accurate estimates of the level of _____________________________________________________________________8growth in the markets we serve. Because those estimates underpin all components of our budgeting and
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forecasting, our estimates or guidance for future revenue, income and expenditures may be inaccurate, and we may make significant investments and expenditures but never realize the anticipated benefits.
We cannot predict the consequences of future geo-political events, but they may adversely affect the markets in which we operate, our ability to insure against risks, our operations or our profitability. Ongoing instability and current conflicts in global markets, including in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and the potential for other conflicts and future terrorist activities and geo-political events throughout the world have created and may continue to create economic and political uncertainties and impacts that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and profitability. Geo-political events and changes in foreign policy could cause isolationism or increased implementation of local solutions by international customers, which could adversely affect demand for our products, systems, services or technologies. Uncertainty in financial and insurance markets may significantly increase the political, economic and social instability in the geographic areas in which we operate which could further impact demand. These types of matters cause uncertainty in financial and insurance markets and may significantly increase the political, economic and social instability in the geographic areas in which we operate.
Unfavorable credit conditions in financial markets outside of the U.S. or changes in U.S. aid or financial support could adversely affect the ability of our international customers and suppliers to obtain financing and could result in a decrease in or cancellation of orders for our products and services or impact the ability of our customers to make payments. These matters also may cause us to experience increased costs, such as for insurance coverage and performance bonds (or for them to be unavailable altogether), as well as difficulty with financing our operating, investing or financing (or refinancing) activities.
We are subject to government investigations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. U.S. Government contractors are subject to extensive legal and regulatory requirements, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”), the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”), and U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). From time to time agencies of the U.S. Government investigate whether we have been and are operating in accordance with these and/or applicable contractual requirements. Under U.S. Government regulations, an indictment of L3Harris by a federal grand jury, or an administrative finding against us as to our present responsibility to be a U.S. Government contractor or subcontractor, could result in us being suspended for a period of time from eligibility for awards of new government contracts or task orders or in a loss of export privileges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. A conviction, or an administrative finding against us that satisfies the requisite level of seriousness, could result in civil and/or criminal penalties, including fines, seizure of our products and debarment from contracting with the U.S. Government for a specific term, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from international operations and are subject to the risks of doing business internationally. We are dependent on sales to customers outside the U.S. We expect that international revenue will continue to account for a significant portion of our total revenue. Also, a portion of our international revenue is from, and a portion of our business activity is being conducted with or in, less-developed countries and sometimes countries with unstable governments, or in areas of military conflict or at military installations. Other risks of doing business internationally include:
•Laws, regulations and policies of foreign governments relating to investments and operations, including laws restricting our ability to transact in certain countries and/or markets;
•Unforeseen changes in export controls and other trade regulations;
•Changes in regulatory requirements, including business or operating license requirements, currency exchange controls or embargoes;
•Uncertainties and restrictions concerning the availability of funding, credit or guarantees;
•Risk of non-payment or delayed payment by non-U.S. customers;
•Contractual obligations to non-U.S. customers that may include specific in-country purchases, investments, manufacturing agreements or financial or other support obligations, known as offset obligations, that may extend for years, require teaming with local companies and result in significant penalties if not satisfied;
•Issues related to involving international dealers, distributors, sales representatives and consultants;
•Difficulties of managing a geographically dispersed organization and culturally diverse workforces, including compliance with local laws and practices;
•Fluctuations of currency, currency revaluations, difficulties with repatriating cash generated or held abroad in a tax-efficient manner and changes in tax laws;
•Uncertainties as to local laws and enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights and occasional requirements for onerous contract terms;
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•Changes in government, economic and political policies, political or civil unrest, acts of terrorism, threats of international boycotts, U.S. anti-boycott legislation or sanctions against U.S. defense companies; and
•Increased risk of an incident resulting in damage or destruction to our facilities or products or resulting in injury or loss of life to our employees, subcontractors or other third parties.
Business and Operational Risks
We depend on our subcontractors and suppliers, and failures in or disruptions to our supply chain could cause our products and or services to be produced or delivered in an untimely or unsatisfactory manner. Our ability to manufacture and deliver products and services to our customers requires our U.S. and non-U.S. subcontractors and suppliers to provide a variety of materials, components, subsystems and services. In some instances, we depend upon a single supplier for certain components, which adds risk because that supplier may at times be unable to meet our needs and because we may have limited negotiating leverage with sole-source suppliers. In some instances, we depend upon a single supplier for components, which adds risk because that supplier may at times be unable to meet our needs and because we may have little negotiating leverage with sole-source suppliers. Identifying and qualifying dual and second-source suppliers can be difficult, time-consuming and may result in increased costs. Any inability to timely develop cost-effective alternative sources of supply could materially impact our ability to manufacture and deliver products and services to our customers.
In addition, we are required to procure certain materials and components, including microelectronic components, from U.S. Government-approved supply sources. Heightened regulatory requirements that may apply to these sources can further limit the subcontractors and suppliers we may utilize. Certain heightened regulatory requirements that may apply to these sources can further limit the subcontractors and suppliers we may utilize. Legislation, regulatory changes or other governmental actions, including product certification or stewardship requirements, sourcing restrictions, tariffs, export controls, embargoes, product authenticity, cybersecurity regulation, and environmental standards may all impact our subcontractors and suppliers. Legislation, regulatory changes or other governmental actions, including product certification or stewardship requirements, sourcing restrictions, tariffs, embargoes, product authenticity, cybersecurity regulation, and environmental standards (e.
From time to time, our subcontractors and suppliers experience financial and operational difficulties outside of our direct control, which may impact their ability to deliver the materials, components, subsystems and services we need.
In recent years, global supply chains, including ours, have experienced significant disruption from material availability and supplier performance, as well as extended lead times, pricing volatility, inflationary pressures and labor issues. We and our subcontractors and suppliers have also experienced difficulties in the timely procurement of necessary materials and components, including microelectronics. Current geopolitical conditions, including sanctions and other trade restrictive activities and strained inter-country relations, have contributed to issues procuring necessary materials and components. For example, some materials and components in our supply chain have previously been sourced from areas now under sanctions or other trade restrictions, such as specialty metals from Russia and certain equipment from China, or are currently sourced from areas which are at risk of sanctions or other trade restrictive actions, not just by the United States but by other nations or groups, such as the European Union.
While we continuously work to implement supply chain resiliency initiatives, we cannot guarantee the success of any of these efforts. Material supply disruptions may still occur in the future. Any supply chain disruption could result in delayed deliveries, increased costs, loss of customers, contractual penalties or damages, claims or litigation, regulatory investigations or actions, loss of future business opportunities, or reputational harm, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, operational results, financial condition and cash flow.
Changes in trade policies, including tariffs, could cause adverse impacts to our business. Beginning in first quarter 2025, we observed a significant shift in U.S. trade policy, with increased tariffs and the imposition of new tariffs that could impact our supply chain and our business. While certain of such tariffs have been paused, ultimately trade policy decisions are outside of our control and may have consequences for our business. Changes in trade policies, such as new tariffs or increases in tariffs, or reactionary measures including retaliatory tariffs, legal challenges, or currency manipulation, could adversely impact us.
Even though we primarily sell our products and services to U.S. Government customers and our suppliers are primarily domestic, we still rely on imported materials, components, or finished goods, and if tariffs increase, our supply chain costs may rise, adversely affecting our business, results of operations and cash flows. We also operate a business in Canada that supports both domestic and international programs. If we are not granted exemptions from tariffs due to the nature of our business and customers, we could see greater impacts than we currently expect, especially as it relates to tariffs between the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, retaliatory measures, or prolonged uncertainty in trade relationships could result in supply chain disruptions, delayed shipments, or increased operational complexity, which could also adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. While we intend to take steps to mitigate any impacts of tariffs or other impacts resulting from changes in trade policy, our ability to do so may be limited by operational and supply chain constraints, especially in the short term.
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We must attract and retain key employees, and any failure to do so could harm us. Our future success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our management and our ability to attract and retain highly-qualified management and technical personnel, including engineers and employees who have, or can obtain, U.S. Government security clearances, particularly clearances of top secret and above. To the extent that the demand for qualified personnel exceeds supply in certain areas, we could experience higher labor, recruiting or training costs in order to attract and retain such employees. Failure to attract and retain such personnel would damage our future prospects and could adversely affect our ability to succeed in our human capital goals and priorities, as well as negatively impact our business and operating results.
We could be negatively impacted by a security breach of our Information Technology (“IT”) networks and related systems. We face the risk of a security breach, whether through cyber-attack on our IT infrastructure, insider threat, or threats to the physical security of our facilities and employees or other significant disruption of our IT networks and related systems or those of our suppliers or subcontractors. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attack or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, is persistent. The volume, intensity and sophistication of threats from around the world remains elevated. These risks may increase as AI capabilities improve.
As a government contractor with access to national security or other sensitive government information, we face a heightened risk of a security breach or disruption from threats to gain unauthorized access to our and our customers’ proprietary information on our IT networks and related systems, our classified networks, and to the IT networks and related systems that we operate, maintain and secure for certain of our customers. We have implemented various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption. See “Item 1C. Cybersecurity" in this Report for further discussion of our risk management and strategy related to cybersecurity threats.
Our efforts and measures have not been entirely effective in the case of every cyber security incident, but no incident has had a material negative impact on us to date. Even the most well-protected information, networks, systems and facilities remain potentially vulnerable because attempted security breaches, particularly cyber-attacks and cyber intrusions, or disruptions will occur in the future, and because the techniques used in such attempts are constantly evolving and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, and in some cases are designed not to be detected and, in fact, may not be detected. In some cases, the resources of foreign governments may be behind such attacks due to the nature of our business and the industries in which we operate. Accordingly, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate security controls or other preventative measures and future cyber security incidents may have a material negative impact on us. A security breach or other significant disruption involving these types of information and IT networks and related systems could:
•Disrupt proper functioning of these networks and systems and, therefore, our operations and/or those of certain of our customers;
•Result in unauthorized access to, and destruction, loss, theft, misappropriation or release of, proprietary, confidential, sensitive or otherwise valuable information of ours, our customers or our employees, including trade secrets, which could be used to compete against us or for disruptive, destructive or otherwise harmful purposes and outcomes;
•Compromise national security and other sensitive government functions;
•Require significant management attention and resources to remedy damages that result;
•Result in costs which exceed our insurance coverage and/or indemnification arrangements;
•Subject us to claims for contract breach, damages, credits, penalties or termination; and
•Damage our reputation with our customers and the general public.
We must also rely on the safeguards of varying levels put in place by customers, suppliers, vendors, subcontractors or other third parties to minimize the impact of cyber threats, other security threats or business disruptions. These third parties may have varying levels of cybersecurity expertise and safeguards. Our commercial arrangements with these third parties include processes designed to require that the third parties and their employees and agents agree to maintain certain standards for the storage, protection and transfer of confidential, personal and proprietary information. However, we remain at risk of a data breach due to the intentional or unintentional non-compliance by a third party’s employee or agent, the breakdown of a third party’s data protection processes, which may not be as sophisticated as ours, or a cyber-attack on a third party’s information network and systems.
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Any or all of the foregoing could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity, reputation, ability to protect data, assets, and intellectual property, maintenance of customer and vendor relationships, competitive posture, and could lead to litigation or regulatory investigations or actions.
Our future success will depend on our ability to develop new products and services that achieve market acceptance in our current and future markets. Our businesses are characterized by rapidly changing technologies and evolving industry standards. To remain competitive, we need to continue to design, develop, manufacture, assemble, test, market and support new products and services, which will require the investment of significant financial resources in new technologies such as AI.
We have allocated funds for such investments through customer-funded and internal R&D, strategic alliances and other teaming arrangements, but we may not be able to successfully identify new opportunities and may not have the necessary resources to develop new products and services in a timely or cost-effective manner. Furthermore, we cannot be sure that these expenditures ultimately will lead to the timely development of new products and services. Due to the design complexity of some of our products and services, we may experience delays in completing development and introducing new products and services or incorporating new technologies into our existing products and services in the future. Any delays could result in increased costs of development or divert resources from other projects.
The competitive landscape is also evolving, with increased competition from non-traditional new entrants, including technology start-ups. While these competitors may lack our scale, production capacity, and established customer trust, they may possess innovative or low-cost technologies and the ability to rapidly deploy new solutions. The emergence of such players may intensify pricing pressure and threaten our market share or competitive advantage.
In addition, the markets for our products and services may not develop as we currently anticipate, we may not be as successful in newly identified markets as anticipated, and joint ventures, partnerships, strategic alliances or other teaming arrangements we may enter into to pursue developing new products and services may not be successful. Our competitors, including non-traditional new entrants, may incorporate AI technologies into their products or services more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete. Our competitors may incorporate AI technologies into their products or services more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete. Furthermore, competitors may develop competing products and services or incorporate new technologies into their existing products and services that either gain market acceptance in advance of our products and services or cause our existing products and services or technologies to become non-competitive or obsolete, which could adversely affect our results of operations and harm our business. Furthermore, competitors may develop competing products and services or incorporate new technologies into our existing products and services that either gain market acceptance in advance of our products and services or cause our existing products and services or _____________________________________________________________________11technologies to become non-competitive or obsolete, which could adversely affect our results of operations and harm our business.
We have significant operations in locations that could be materially and adversely impacted in the event of a natural disaster or other significant disruption. Our corporate headquarters and significant business operations are located in Florida, which is subject to the risk of major hurricanes. Our worldwide operations and operations of our suppliers and customers could be subject to natural disasters or other significant disruptions, including hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, fires, water shortages, other extreme weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics, acts of terrorism, power shortages and blackouts, telecommunications failures and other natural and man-made disasters or disruptions. Our worldwide operations and operations of our suppliers and customers could be subject to natural disasters (including those as a result of climate change) or other significant disruptions, including hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, fires, water shortages, other extreme weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics, acts of terrorism, power shortages and blackouts, telecommunications failures and other natural and man-made disasters or disruptions. In the event of such a natural disaster or other disruption, we could experience disruptions or interruptions to our operations or the operations of our suppliers, subcontractors, distributors, resellers or customers, including inability of employees to work; destruction of facilities; and/or loss of life, all of which could materially increase our costs and expenses, delay or decrease orders and revenue from our customers and have a material adverse effect on the continuity of our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
Risk of the release, unplanned ignition, explosion, or improper handling of dangerous materials used in our business could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our financial results. Our business operations are subject to risk in connection with the handling, production, and disposition of potentially explosive and ignitable energetic materials and other dangerous chemicals, including motors and other materials used in rocket propulsion. The handling, production, transport, and disposition of hazardous materials could result in incidents that temporarily shut down or otherwise disrupt our manufacturing operations and could cause production delays. A release of these chemicals or an unplanned ignition or explosion could result in death or significant injuries to employees and others. Material property damage to us or third parties could also occur.
The use of these products in applications by our customers could also result in liability if an explosion, unplanned ignition or fire were to occur. Extensive regulations apply to the handling of explosive and energetic materials, including but not limited to, regulations governing hazardous substances and hazardous waste. The failure to properly store and ultimately dispose of such materials could create significant liability and/or result in
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regulatory sanctions. Any release, unplanned ignition or explosion could expose us to adverse publicity or liability for damages or cause production delays, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
The failure to effectively maintain and modernize our IT systems and infrastructure could adversely affect our business. Rapid development cycles and the growth and expansion of our business has created technical debt within our enterprise. As part of our digital transformation, we are modernizing our infrastructure, applications, and information ecosystem, inclusive of cloud migrations, increasing automation and expanding the use of AI. Until our digital transformation is fully complete, we will continue to rely on significant manual processes and procedures that subject us to increased risk of error and internal control failure compared to automated processes. Our ability to modernize our technology systems and infrastructure requires us to execute large-scale, complex programs and projects, which rely on the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources and effective planning and management processes. We also rely on third party outsourcing, so the speed and effectiveness of our digital transformation may be subject to additional factors beyond our control. Additionally, integrating AI capabilities could increase technical complexity, potentially exacerbating these challenges. As a result, we may be unable to complete our digital transformation and manage our technical debt efficiently or in a timely manner, which could result in operational resiliency issues, delivery delays, cost overruns, additional expenses, reputational harm, legal and regulatory actions, and other adverse consequences.
Financial Risks
Changes in estimates we use in accounting for many of our programs could adversely affect our future financial condition and results of operations. Accounting for our contracts requires judgment relative to assessing risks, including estimating contract revenue and costs and assumptions for schedule and technical issues. Due to the size and nature of many of our contracts, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complicated and subject to many variables. For example, we must make assumptions regarding: (i) the nature and complexity of the work to be performed; (ii) subcontractors’ and suppliers’ expected performance; (iii) availability and costs of labor, materials, components subsystems and services (including expected increases in wages and prices); (iv) the length of time to complete the contract; (v) the allocation of transaction price to one or more performance obligations based on the products and services promised to the customer; (vi) incentives or penalties related to performance on contracts in estimating revenue and profit rates, and recording them when there is sufficient information for us to assess anticipated performance; and (vii) estimates of award fees in estimating revenue and profit rates based on actual and anticipated awards.
Our profitability can be adversely affected when estimated contract costs increase from our initial estimates, especially without comparable increases in revenue. There are many reasons estimated contract costs can increase, including: (i) supply chain disruptions, inflation and labor issues; (ii) design or other development challenges; and (iii) program execution challenges (including from technical or quality issues and other performance concerns). Because of the significance of the judgments and the difficulties inherent in estimating future costs, we cannot guarantee that estimated revenues and contract costs will not change in the future. However, because of the significance of the judgments and the difficulties inherent in estimating future costs, we cannot guarantee that estimated revenues and contract costs will not change in the future. Any cost growth or changes in estimated contract revenues and costs may adversely affect results of operations and financial condition. Any cost growth or _____________________________________________________________________12changes in estimated contract revenues and costs may adversely affect results of operations and financial condition. For additional information regarding our critical accounting estimates applicable to our accounting for our contracts, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Estimates” of this Report.
Our level of indebtedness and our ability to make payments on or service our indebtedness may materially adversely affect our financial and operating activities or our ability to incur additional debt.Our level of indebtedness and our ability to make payments on or service our indebtedness and our unfunded defined benefit plans liability may materially adversely affect our financial and operating activities or our ability to incur additional debt. As of January 2, 2026, we had $10.9 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding fixed-rate debt, which reflects our total long-term debt, including current portion but excluding finance leases. Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our current or future indebtedness, will depend on our ability to generate cash from operations, financings and investments, which may be subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our current or future indebtedness, and our ability to make contributions to our unfunded defined benefit plans liability, will depend on our ability to generate cash from operations, financings and investments, which may be subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
If we are not able to repay or refinance our debt as it becomes due, we may be forced to divest businesses, sell assets or take other disadvantageous actions, including reducing financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes; reducing our cash dividend rate and/or share repurchases; or dedicating an unsustainable level of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness. If we are not able to repay or refinance our debt as it becomes due or make contributions to our unfunded defined benefit plans liability, we may be forced to divest businesses, sell assets or take other disadvantageous actions, including reducing financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes; reducing our cash dividend rate and/or share repurchases; or dedicating an unsustainable level of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness. In addition, our ability to withstand competitive pressures and to react to changes in the defense technology industry could be impaired. The lenders who hold such debt could also accelerate amounts due, which could potentially trigger a default or acceleration of any of our other debt.
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Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks
Changes in our effective tax rate or additional tax exposures may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous international jurisdictions. There are transactions and calculations in the ordinary course of business where the application of tax law may be uncertain, require significant judgment or be subject to differing interpretations. Our worldwide income tax provision may be adversely affected by a number of factors, which include:
•Changes in domestic or international tax laws or the interpretation of such tax laws;
•The jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed;
•Adjustments to estimated taxes upon finalization of various tax returns;
•Increases in expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, including impairment of goodwill or other long-term assets acquired in connection with mergers or acquisitions;
•Changes in available tax credits;
•Changes in share-based compensation expense;
•Changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; and
•The resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various tax authorities.
Any significant increase in our future effective tax rates, or timing of deductions, credits, or payments, could adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows for future periods.
We may not be successful in obtaining the necessary export licenses and Congress may prevent proposed sales to certain foreign governments. We must first obtain export and other licenses and authorizations from various U.S. Government agencies before we are permitted to engage in international transactions involving certain products and technologies.
Our ability to obtain necessary licenses and authorizations is subject to risks and uncertainties, including changing U.S. Government policies or laws or delays in Congressional action due to several factors, including geopolitical and national security considerations. We may be unsuccessful in obtaining necessary licenses or authorizations or Congress may prevent or delay certain sales. If we are not successful in obtaining or maintaining the necessary licenses or authorizations in a timely manner, our transactions relating to those approvals may be reversed, prevented or delayed, and any significant impairment of our ability to sell products or technologies outside of the U.S. could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
Environmental issues could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. Our operations are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local, as well as certain foreign, environmental laws and regulations within the countries in which we operate relating to the discharge, storage, treatment, handling, disposal and remediation of certain materials, substances and wastes used in our operations. Our real estate assets in particular are subject to various risks, including that our reserves for estimated future environmental obligations may prove to be insufficient, we may be unable to complete environmental remediation or, we may be unable to have state and federal environmental restrictions lifted.
Compliance with current and future environmental laws and regulations may require significant operating and capital costs. Environmental laws and regulations may institute substantial fines and criminal sanctions as well as facility shutdowns to address violations and may require the installation of costly pollution control equipment or operational changes to limit emissions or discharges. Our suppliers may face similar business interruptions and incur additional costs that may increase the price of materials needed for manufacturing. We also incur, and expect to continue to incur, costs to comply with current environmental laws and regulations related to remediation of conditions in the environment. In addition, if violations of environmental laws result in us, or in one or more of our operations, being identified as an excluded party in the U.S. Government’s System for Award Management, then we or one or more of our operations would become ineligible to receive certain contracts, subcontracts and other benefits from the federal government or to perform work under a government contract or subcontract. Generally, such ineligibility would continue until the basis for the listing has been appropriately addressed.
If our responses to new or evolving legal and regulatory requirements or other sustainability concerns are unsuccessful or perceived as inadequate for the U.S. or our international markets, we also may suffer damage to our reputation, which could adversely affect our business. Developments such as the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, violations by us of such laws and regulations, discovery of previously unknown or more extensive contamination, litigation involving environmental impacts, our inability to recover costs associated with any such developments under previously priced contracts or financial insolvency of other responsible parties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
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Our reputation and ability to do business may be impacted by the improper conduct of our employees, agents or business partners. We have implemented compliance controls, training, policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with, and prevent and detect reckless or criminal acts from being committed by our employees, agents or business partners that would violate the laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Such laws include laws governing payments to government officials, the FCPA, export controls, such as ITAR and the EAR, false claims, procurement integrity, cost accounting and billing, competition, information security and data privacy and the terms of our contracts.
We cannot ensure, however, that our controls, training, policies and procedures will prevent or detect all such reckless or criminal acts, and we have been adversely impacted by such acts in the past. If not prevented, such acts could subject us to civil or criminal investigations, monetary and non-monetary penalties and suspension and debarment by the U.S. Government and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and reputation. In addition, misconduct involving data security lapses resulting in the compromise of personal information or the improper use of our customers’ sensitive or classified information could result in remediation costs, regulatory sanctions against us and serious harm to our reputation and could adversely impact our ability to continue to contract with the U.S. Government.
The outcome of litigation or arbitration in which we are involved from time to time is unpredictable, and an adverse decision in any such matter could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. The size, nature and complexity of our business make us susceptible to investigations, claims, disputes, enforcement actions, litigation and other legal proceedings, particularly those involving governments. The size, nature and complexity of our business make us susceptible to investigations, claims, disputes, enforcement actions, litigation and other legal proceedings, particularly those involving governments. From time to time, we are defendants in a number of litigation matters and are involved in a number of arbitration matters. These actions may divert financial and management resources that would otherwise be used to benefit our operations. The results of these or new matters may be unfavorable to us. Although we maintain insurance policies, they may not be adequate to protect us from all material judgments and expenses related to current or future claims and may not cover the conduct that is the subject of the litigation or arbitration. Desired levels of insurance may not be available in the future at economical prices or at all. In addition, the results of litigation or arbitration can be difficult to predict, including litigation involving jury trials. Accordingly, our current judgment as to the likelihood of our loss (or our current estimate as to the potential range of loss, if applicable) with respect to any particular litigation or arbitration matter may be wrong. Accordingly, our current _____________________________________________________________________14judgment as to the likelihood of our loss (or our current estimate as to the potential range of loss, if applicable) with respect to any particular litigation or arbitration matter may be wrong. A significant judgment or arbitration award against us arising out of any of our current or future litigation or arbitration matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity.
We may become subject to intellectual property infringement claims, and third parties may infringe upon our intellectual property rights. Many of the markets we serve are characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights. Our competitive position in the market depends in part on our proprietary technology and our ability to ensure it is protected when necessary. Third parties have claimed in the past, and may claim in the future, that we are infringing upon their intellectual property rights. Such claims may result in us having potential defense costs, royalty agreements, damage awards or injunctions granted against certain capabilities.
We rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, confidentiality provisions, proper use of data rights assertions with our government customers and licensing arrangements to establish and protect our intellectual property rights. In addition, the laws concerning intellectual property vary among nations and the protection provided to our intellectual property by the laws and courts of foreign nations may differ from those of the U.S. If we fail to successfully protect and enforce these rights, our competitive position could suffer. Our pending patent and trademark registration applications may not be allowed, or competitors may challenge the validity or scope of our patents or trademark registrations. Our U.S. Government customers may challenge our data rights assertions. We may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and enforce our intellectual property rights. Litigation to determine the scope of intellectual property rights, even if ultimately successful, could be costly and could divert management’s attention away from other aspects of our business. We may not be able to detect infringement, and our competitive position may be harmed before we do so. In addition, competitors may design around our technology or develop competing technologies.
We face certain significant risk exposures and potential liabilities that may not be covered adequately by insurance or indemnity. We are exposed to liabilities that are unique to the products and services we provide. A significant portion of our business relates to designing, developing and manufacturing advanced defense, technology and communications systems and products. New technologies associated with these systems and products may be untested or unproven. Components of certain defense systems and products we develop are inherently dangerous. Failures of satellites, missile systems, air traffic control systems, electronic warfare systems, space superiority systems, command, control, computers, communications, cyber, ISR, homeland security applications and aircraft have the potential to cause loss of life and extensive property damage. Other examples of unforeseen problems that
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could result, either directly or indirectly, in the loss of life or property or otherwise negatively affect revenue and profitability include loss on launch of spacecraft, premature failure of products that cannot be accessed for repair or replacement, problems with quality and workmanship, country of origin, delivery of subcontractor components or services and unplanned degradation of product performance. In addition, problems and delays in development or delivery as a result of issues with respect to design, technology, licensing and patent rights, labor, learning curve assumptions or materials and components could prevent us from achieving contractual requirements. In many circumstances, we may receive indemnification from the U.S. Government. We generally do not receive indemnification from foreign governments. Although we maintain insurance for certain risks, including certain cybersecurity exposures, the amount of our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all claims or liabilities, and we may be forced to bear substantial costs from an accident or incident. It also is not possible for us to obtain insurance to protect against all operational risks and liabilities. Substantial claims resulting from an incident in excess of U.S. Government indemnity and our insurance coverage would harm our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. Other factors that may affect revenue and profits include loss of follow-on work, and, in the case of certain contracts, liquidated damages, penalties and repayment to the customer of contract cost and fee payments we previously received. Moreover, any accident or incident for which we are liable, even if fully insured, could negatively affect our standing with our customers and the public, thereby making it more difficult for us to compete effectively, and could significantly impact the cost and availability of adequate insurance in the future.
Strategic Transactions and Investments Risks
Strategic transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and the planned initial public offering (“IPO”) of the Missile Solutions business, involve significant risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity. Strategic transactions in which we have engaged and may engage in the future, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and the planned IPO of the Missile Solutions business, present significant risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and equity, which include:
•Difficulty in identifying and evaluating potential mergers and acquisitions, including the risk that our due diligence does not identify or fully assess valuation issues, potential liabilities or other transaction risks;
•Difficulty, delays and expense in integrating newly merged or acquired businesses and operations, including combining capabilities, and in entering into new markets in which we are not experienced in an efficient and cost-effective manner while maintaining adequate standards, controls and procedures, and the risk that we encounter significant unanticipated costs or other problems associated with integration;
•Differences in business backgrounds, corporate cultures and management philosophies that may delay successful integration;
•Difficulty, delays and expense in consolidating and rationalizing IT infrastructure, which may include multiple legacy systems from transactions and integrating software code;
•Challenges in achieving strategic objectives, cost savings and other expected benefits;
•Risk that our markets do not evolve as anticipated and that the strategic mergers, acquisitions and divestitures do not prove to be those needed to be successful in those markets;
•Risk that we assume or retain, or that companies we have merged with or acquired have assumed or retained or otherwise become subject to, significant liabilities that exceed the limitations of any applicable indemnification provisions or the financial resources of any indemnifying parties;
•Risk that indemnification related to businesses divested or spun off that we may be required to provide or otherwise bear may be significant and could negatively impact our business;
•Risk that mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin offs and other strategic transactions fail to qualify for the intended tax treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the possibility that the full tax benefits anticipated to result from such transactions may not be realized;
•Risk that we are not able to complete strategic divestitures on satisfactory terms and conditions, including non-competition arrangements applicable to certain of our business lines, or within expected timeframes;
•Potential loss of key employees or customers of the businesses acquired or to be divested; and
•Risk of diverting the attention of senior management from our existing operations.
Changes in future business or other market conditions could cause business investments and/or recorded goodwill or other intangible assets to become impaired, resulting in substantial losses and write-downs that would materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. A significant portion of our assets consist of goodwill and other intangible assets, primarily recorded as the result of acquisitions. Assumptions and judgments used in determining the initial purchase price of an acquisition may subsequently prove to be inaccurate due to changes in business, market, or economic conditions, or as a result of unforeseen developments, which could adversely affect the anticipated returns or which are otherwise not recoverable as an adjustment to the purchase
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price. We evaluate the recoverability of recorded goodwill annually, as well as when we change reporting units (either as a result of a reorganization or as the result of divestiture activity) and when events or circumstances indicate there may be an impairment. If an impairment exists, we record the charge in the period of determination. Because of the significance of our goodwill and other intangible assets, any future impairment of these assets could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. For additional information on our accounting policies related to impairment of goodwill, see our discussion under “Critical Accounting Estimates” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Report and Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies and Note 6: Goodwill and Intangible Assets in the Notes.
| ITEM 1B. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS. | ||||
Not applicable.
| ITEM 1C. | CYBERSECURITY. | ||||
Risk Management and Strategy
Risks related to cybersecurity threats are reflected in an enterprise risk “heat map,” along with other material risks identified through the ERM process, and any mitigation plans developed to manage such risks are reported to our Board of Directors (“Board”). The “heat map” includes risks related to cybersecurity threats to L3Harris and our customers, suppliers, vendors, subcontractors or other third parties, and the possibility of a data breach of our confidential, personal and proprietary information through a cybersecurity incident impacting L3Harris or any third party.
To actively manage cybersecurity risks identified as part of the ERM process or otherwise and to manage emerging cybersecurity threats in real time, management has implemented an ISO 27001 certified Information Security Management System. Our Cybersecurity Team operates a Security Operations Center that continuously monitors activity, frequently scans applications and systems for vulnerabilities to risk from cybersecurity threats and creates action plans to address and track identified cybersecurity threats until they have been remediated. Activities and cybersecurity incidents are reported to our CIO, who briefs senior management, including our CEO, as well as our Board, as appropriate. Activities and cybersecurity incidents are reported to our CIO, who briefs senior management, including our CEO, as well as the Innovation and Cyber Committee and the Audit Committee of our Board (respectively, the “Innovation and Cyber Committee” and the “Audit Committee”), as appropriate. Our Cybersecurity Team also routinely engages with third parties, including government agencies focused on cyber resiliency, to manage risks from cybersecurity threats. For example, we are members of the DoW Defense Industrial Base Collaborative Information Sharing Environment, the National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and the National Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center. For example, we are members of the DoD Defense Industrial Base Collaborative Information Sharing Environment, the National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and the National Security Agency Enduring Security Framework. These organizations share real-time cybersecurity threat information and best practices in protecting, detecting and recovering from cybersecurity threats.
We are committed to safeguarding against both internal and external security threats through a robust counterintelligence and insider threat program that utilizes cutting-edge data analytics and machine learning. As a defense contractor, we must comply with the DoW's cybersecurity regulations, including the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, relating to the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information and prompt reporting of cybersecurity incidents. As a defense contractor, we are subject to the Department of Defense's cybersecurity regulations, including the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, ensuring the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information and prompt reporting of cybersecurity incidents. Our practices have been rigorously assessed by the Defense Contract Management Agency to meet the Level 2 Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements, reflecting our dedication to maintaining stringent security controls.
To mitigate cybersecurity risks introduced from our supply chain, we have a dedicated Cybersecurity - Supply Chain Risk Management team. This team assesses new suppliers against best cybersecurity practices, ensures cybersecurity regulations are contractually flowed down and coordinates mitigation actions across the company if a supplier is impacted by a cybersecurity incident. The Supply Chain Risk Management team utilizes industry monitoring services to identify potential supply chain incidents and works closely with our Cybersecurity Team to understand the latest threats affecting our industry.
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Additionally, as part of our processes to manage risks related to a breach in our information systems, management requires employees to take annual cybersecurity training and shares regular awareness updates regarding cybersecurity threats. Our Cybersecurity Team regularly tests employees throughout the year to assess the effectiveness of the cybersecurity training. We also periodically conduct penetration testing of our network, hold tabletop exercises of cyber incidents, and undertake cybersecurity assessments led by Internal Audit to improve our risk mitigation and assist in the determination of a potential material impact caused by a cybersecurity incident.
Governance
The Audit Committee reviews our cybersecurity risk across the enterprise at least annually, including IT, supply chain and our products and our cybersecurity strategy framework and operational posture. The Board also reviews our IT, data security and other systems, processes, policies, procedures and controls at least annually to (a) identify, assess, monitor and mitigate cybersecurity risks; (b) identify measures to protect and safeguard against cybersecurity threats and breaches of confidential information and data and IT infrastructure and our other assets or assets of our customers or other third parties in our possession or custody; (c) support the response and management of cybersecurity threats and data breach incidents; and (d) aid in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements governing cybersecurity or data security reporting requirements. The Innovation and Cyber Committee also reviews our IT, data security and other systems, processes, policies, procedures and controls at least annually to (a) identify, assess, monitor and mitigate cybersecurity risks; (b) identify measures to protect and safeguard against cybersecurity threats and breaches of confidential information and data and IT infrastructure and our other assets or assets of our customers or other third parties in our possession or custody; (c) support the response and management of cybersecurity threats and data breach incidents; and (d) aid in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements governing cybersecurity or data security reporting requirements.
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| PBF | 7 hours ago |
| VNDA | 7 hours ago |
| IRDM | 7 hours ago |
| TRV | 7 hours ago |
| WELL | 7 hours ago |
| CGNX | 8 hours ago |
| WCN | 8 hours ago |
| PCG | 17 hours ago |
| ILMN | 18 hours ago |
| NWE | 19 hours ago |
| BRO | 20 hours ago |
| EPRT | 20 hours ago |
| APH | 20 hours ago |
| VKTX | 20 hours ago |
| RCL | 21 hours ago |
| AUR | 21 hours ago |
| QTWO | 21 hours ago |
| AMCX | 21 hours ago |
| FR | 21 hours ago |
| GLIBA | 21 hours ago |
| ALB | 21 hours ago |
| RNR | 21 hours ago |
| WPC | 21 hours ago |
| R | 21 hours ago |
| CFLT | 21 hours ago |
| HUBS | 21 hours ago |
| WHR | 22 hours ago |
| AR | 22 hours ago |
| EGP | 22 hours ago |
| AM | 22 hours ago |
