L3Harris Among Primes to Quadruple 'Exquisite Class' Munitions Production
President Trump obtained commitments from major U.S. defense contractors, including L3Harris, to quadruple production of “Exquisite Class” weaponry, with expansions initiated three months prior. The initiative aims to boost medium and upper-medium grade munitions output to support U.S. operations in Iran and Venezuela.
1. White House Defense Meeting
President Trump hosted CEOs from leading defense manufacturers, including L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, BAE Systems, Honeywell and RTX, to secure pledges for rapid weapons production expansion.
2. Production Expansion Details
The group agreed to quadruple output of ‘Exquisite Class’ weaponry, with plant upgrades and new production lines already under way since December. The plan targets medium and upper-medium grade munitions for accelerated deployment.
3. L3Harris and Peers Commitments
L3Harris joined peers in committing to scale manufacturing capacity by 4x, backed by increased orders for precision munitions. Expansion efforts include workforce hires, facility upgrades and supply agreements to meet rising demand.
4. Market Reaction and Geopolitical Impact
Defense shares showed mixed trading as investors weighed higher long-term order visibility against existing backlogs. The ramp-up coincides with elevated U.S. munition use in Iran and Venezuela and oil prices topping $90 per barrel.