知情人士：L3哈里斯拟向AE工业出售航天推进资产股权

Core Viewpoint - L3 Harris Technologies is nearing an agreement to sell 60% of its aerospace and propulsion business assets to private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, aiming to divest parts of its NASA-related operations and focus more on national security [2][6]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The business asset portfolio is valued at $845 million, with L3 Harris retaining 40% equity and AE Industrial paying over $500 million for the 60% stake [2][6]. - The transaction is expected to be announced soon and is one of the larger mergers and acquisitions in the aerospace sector in recent months [2][6]. - The deal is anticipated to provide AE Industrial with opportunities in space exploration and the U.S. Department of Defense's emerging "Gold Top" program, which is a multi-layered space-based missile defense system [2][6]. Group 2: Asset Composition - The sold aerospace propulsion business includes the RL-10 rocket upper stage engine, which is primarily used for deploying space assets and is currently utilized in the Vulcan rocket by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin [2][6]. - The asset portfolio also encompasses orbital propulsion systems, nuclear power technology for lunar and Mars exploration missions, and electronic equipment supporting space launch missions [3][7]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - L3 Harris will retain ownership of the RS-25 rocket engine, which is used in NASA's Artemis program, along with the associated technical teams and facilities [3][7]. - The transaction is not expected to impact L3 Harris's involvement in the "Gold Top" program [8]. - Proceeds from the sale are planned to be used for expanding rocket engine and missile production capacity, meeting general operational needs, and potentially repaying debt [8]. - Since the merger of L3 and Harris in 2018, the total value of assets divested by L3 Harris has exceeded $4 billion, indicating a strategic shift towards optimizing operations around core defense business [4][8].