To solve the critical communications gap where terrestrial signals fail, L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) introduced the XL-300P at the IWCE 2026 event in Las Vegas today, Monday, March 16, 2026.
The new device is the industry’s first land mobile radio (LMR) to integrate a native 5G modem and 3GPP-standard Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities, providing first responders with a triple-layered redundancy of P25, cellular broadband, and satellite connectivity in a single handheld form factor.
Bridging the Terrestrial-Satellite Divide
The XL-300P addresses the “Supplemental Coverage from Space” (SCS) mandate by supporting the 3GPP Release 17 standard for satellite-direct-to-device (D2D) messaging and emergency alerts. According to the company, the device will immediately support T-Mobile’s “T-Satellite” service, powered by the Starlink constellation, and is hardware-ready to integrate with the AST SpaceMobile constellation once that network achieves commercial maturity.
This multi-path approach ensures that mission-critical voice and data can be relayed even in deep “not-spots” or during terrestrial network outages caused by natural disasters.
“We’ve packed a lot into this device—it’s the pinnacle of what we’ve been designing in the XL series,” said James Potter, Director of Strategic Solutions for L3Harris, during the unveiling. “It has a new board, a new LTE 5G modem, and the first land mobile radio implementation of 5G. When satellite D2D is ready to go, we’re ready.”
Strategic Realignment and Heritage
The launch follows a major January 2026 corporate restructuring at L3Harris, which consolidated its tactical radio and electronic warfare capabilities into the “Communications & Spectrum Dominance” (CSD) unit led by Jon Rambeau.
The XL-300P builds on the heritage of the XL-Extreme 400P, utilizing the same ruggedized materials designed for space vehicle reentry. It also evolves the company’s previous satellite integration efforts, such as the Iridium DTCS mission module for the AN/PRC-163, by embedding the satellite functionality directly into the internal architecture of a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) handheld.
Technical Specifications and Security
Designed to meet the most stringent federal requirements, the XL-300P features:
- Multi-Band P25: Interoperability across VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz LMR bands.
- Broadband Convergence: 5G/LTE connectivity with FirstNet® priority and preemption.
- Cybersecurity: FIPS 140-3 Level 3 compliance, providing end-to-end multikey encryption for secure voice, data, and location services.
- User Interface: Voice-activated radio controls and a glove-friendly keypad with high-visibility color displays.
L3Harris will begin taking orders for the XL-300P immediately, with shipping scheduled to commence in July 2026. The company also confirmed plans to develop a mobile (vehicular) version of the 5G/satellite hybrid radio to support the U.S. Army’s push for resilient communications at the tactical edge.
As the “Golden Dome” missile defense and proliferated LEO architectures come online through 2027, L3Harris expects the XL-300P to serve as the primary ground interface for integrated joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) operations among public safety and defense agencies.
