The hidden hand

The tactical radio maker behind every US weather forecast

L3Harris manufactures the sole instrument on America's weather satellites, with no backup system in place.

The number

2geostationary satellites dependent on L3Harris ABI

L3Harris is famous for military and public safety radios, but the company is the exclusive manufacturer of the Advanced Baseline Imager aboard NOAA's GOES-East and GOES-West satellites. Every US weather prediction, hurricane track, severe storm warning, and flood estimate flows from L3Harris instruments in orbit—with zero alternatives if one fails.

Source: GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) — NOAA · National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Jan 1, 2022

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