LA Wildfires Prove This Tech Is Unstoppable
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| By Michael A. Robinson |
The wildfire that ripped through the nearby Pacific Palisades didn’t just take out homes and businesses.
It also wiped out key infrastructure in this once well-connected area of LA.
Residents were suddenly cut off from the outside world, left with no power, no internet, no way to communicate.
Enter the world’s richest man and arguably its best technologist. Elon Musk stepped in and provided immediate access to his Starlink satellite network.
And just like that, people who were stranded with no signal were back online, making voice and data calls with ease.
But here’s what most people missed: This was just a preview of what’s coming.
Because while Starlink was helping on the ground, Musk was busy making history in orbit.
His space company was out there pushing the next generation of satellite communications — what the industry calls “satcoms.”
And now, laser satcoms are here — a game-changing advancement that’s set to reshape global connectivity.
That’s why Mordor Intelligence projects this sector will hit $193 billion in the near future.
And I’ve found a company poised to ride this unstoppable wave …
The Shift to Space-Based Communication
We live in a world where communication is everything. Yet, we’ve seen firsthand the fragility of our infrastructure.
The Pacific Palisades fire proved something critical: Satcoms aren’t just for governments and military anymore.
These networks are immune to terrestrial disruptions, whether from natural disasters or manmade failures.
Undersea cables get cut. Cell towers get knocked out by floods and fires. Even in major cities, connection isn’t guaranteed.
That’s why satcoms are rewriting the playbook. With their entire infrastructure in space, they bypass these vulnerabilities entirely.
Earlier this month, SpaceX and York Space Systems hit a major milestone for global satcoms.
They linked two satellites using laser communications — and kept that connection for over 24 hours.
That’s a massive breakthrough.
Just a short while ago, maintaining that kind of link for more than two to three hours was nearly impossible.
This changes the game.
The Speed & Power of Laser Satcoms
Laser satcoms are now not only viable but ready for real-world deployment in both civilian and defense sectors. The next step?
A full-scale deployment to enable uninterrupted, high-speed global connectivity. And with Musk’s growing influence in Washington, the New Space Race is moving into high gear.
So why are laser satcoms such a big deal? Think of it like comparing an old rotary phone to a modern smartphone.
Landlines worked, but they were slow, limited and outdated. Smartphones brought us fast, high-bandwidth connectivity from anywhere.
The same applies here. Radio-frequency satellites have done the job, but they’re old tech. Laser satcoms move data 10x to 100x faster.
Take space exploration … sending a full map of Mars back to Earth using radio waves takes nine weeks. With lasers, it’s down to nine days.
As we push beyond the Moon and onto Mars, advanced satcoms will be a necessity, not a luxury.
A Key Player in the New Space Race
Which brings me to the company leading the charge: L3Harris Technologies (LHX).
This is a quiet giant in the communications world, with a legacy dating back to 1890.
It’s not just another aerospace company. It builds critical defense, command, control and satellite communications infrastructure.
In 2019, Harris merged with L3 Communications, a major defense contractor specializing in secure mobile networks. That merger created a powerhouse in both space-based and ground-based communications.
Based in Melbourne, Florida, its headquarters are just a stone’s throw from Cape Canaveral.
That’s no coincidence. LHX has been a key player in space communications since the Apollo era, working with NASA, the Pentagon and governments around the world.
It’s also the go-to supplier for military-grade communications, secure radio networks and reconnaissance technology.
And here’s the kicker: Most of what LHX builds meets strict military and NASA standards. That’s an exclusive club — one that newcomers in this sector can’t just walk into.
LHX has mastered the balance between innovation and reliability. And its strategic moves prove it.
Smart Acquisitions & Expanding Capabilities
The company acquired Aerojet Rocketdyne in 2023, cementing its role in rocket propulsion.
Before that, management made a major investment in Mynaric, a German firm specializing in laser-based satellite communications.
These aren’t random buys.
They’re calculated plays that position LHX as a dominant force in the New Space Race.
And the timing couldn’t be better.
In 2025, Cape Canaveral will see near-daily rocket launches. SpaceX alone has 25 launches lined up.
Rocket Lab has 16. Even Blue Origin is ramping up.
Every one of these missions is expanding satcom capabilities. And LHX will be right at the center of it all.
Beyond the space race, LHX is also deeply embedded in national defense. And the market for military satellite communication is growing fast.
With conflicts increasing globally, and cyber threats rising, the need for ultra-secure, real-time satellite communication is skyrocketing.
The U.S. military, NATO allies and private sector security firms are all turning to companies like LHX to keep critical networks online at all times.
The Expanding Market for Satcoms
And let’s not forget about commercial applications.
Imagine an airline where every passenger has high-speed, low-latency internet or remote work made possible from any location on Earth.
That’s where this technology is heading. And LHX is there to make it all work together.
LHX’s financials tell a compelling story too. While earnings growth has been slow over the past three years, that’s about to change.
The company has successfully integrated Aerojet, landed key new contracts and is expanding profit margins.
With demand for space-based and defense communications accelerating, LHX is primed for a breakout.
Best,
Michael A. Robinson
P.S. It’s not alone. In fact, my colleague, Chris Graebe, has had his boots on the ground in Cape Canaveral scouting another that is set to take on SpaceX’s empire head on. And it is doing it far cheaper.
What’s more, it is not yet public. BUT, there is a small window for early investors to get in before it IPOs. Here’s how.
