Here’s what you need to know about America’s new defense Titan

Harris Corp. and L-3 Technologies are planning to come together in hopes of better competing against the much larger primes. Two years ago Harris completed its acquisition of Exelis Inc. On Oct. 14 Harris and L-3 said they would combine in an all-stock deal that would create a $33.5 billion defense electronics company. L-3 Technologies CEO Chris Kubasik said the deal would move the two companies closer to becoming an “innovative non-traditional 6th Prime,” though the company would still fall well short of industry leaders Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Boeing in annual sales. Each company focused on military electronics and communications. Both have been pushing to increase the amount of business they do directly with the Pentagon instead of subcontracting, with Harris focused on battlefield management, aircraft communications, and increasing its classified space work and L-3 making a range of sensors and night-vision equipment and developing unmanned vessels.