L3Harris has opened a 50,000-square-foot maritime production facility at ProvPort in Providence, Rhode Island, in a $6 million investment intended to support the production of undersea training systems for the U.S. Navy and allied fleets. The facility will support the integration and testing of undersea training ranges for U.S. and partner-nation fleets, Breaking Defense reported.
The company marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting attended by government representatives and local business leaders. L3Harris said the investment would leverage local partnerships to provide “additional jobs” in the community. The announcement described the jobs as an intended result of the investment but did not provide a figure.
The ProvPort facility adds to L3Harris’ long-running presence in Rhode Island. The company initially opened a facility in Ashaway in 1991 focused on undersea sensor systems and military sonar capabilities for the U.S. Navy. The new Providence site is associated with production and with the integration and testing of undersea training ranges for U.S. and partner-nation fleets.
L3Harris described the ProvPort site as a maritime production facility supporting undersea training systems. Its announcement also identified integration and testing of undersea training ranges as work the site will support. The information released about the opening did not identify specific systems, platforms, testing methods, delivery schedules or production volumes.
Nino DiCosmo, president of Maritime, Space and Mission Systems at L3Harris, said in a statement that demand for undersea training and readiness had never been greater. He said the facility would position the company to meet customer requirements with the speed and scale those customers require.
DiCosmo also cited ProvPort’s location and access to a skilled maritime workforce. He said the site would give L3Harris a strategic advantage and described the opening as part of the company’s commitment to Rhode Island.
The facility’s stated customers include the U.S. Navy and allies, with the opening account referring more specifically to U.S. and partner-nation fleets. The announcement did not assign particular systems or programs to the site, and it did not describe how work would be divided among those customers.
The opening also drew comments from Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Reed said the facility would strengthen Rhode Island’s leadership in undersea warfare technology and increase the state’s contributions to the defense industrial base. He also said he looked forward to working with L3Harris as the company develops partnerships with local small businesses and universities.
Reed’s comments framed the facility as an economic and industrial development for the state. L3Harris’ announcement similarly connected the investment to local partnerships and additional community jobs. The materials released about the opening did not provide figures for local contracting, university participation or broader economic effects.
The facility’s disclosed physical and financial measures are its 50,000 square feet and $6 million investment. Its disclosed work involves supporting the production of undersea training systems and supporting the integration and testing of undersea training ranges. The announcement did not provide a staffing level, operating capacity, individual program assignments or delivery timetable.
The opening gives L3Harris a new Providence location alongside its existing Ashaway presence. The company has linked the ProvPort site to undersea training systems for U.S. and partner-nation fleets, while identifying local partnerships and additional jobs as part of the investment’s intended community impact. The event establishes the site’s location, size, investment and described functions, but leaves future production details to be determined.