L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) Q4 2022 Earnings Conference Call January 27, 2023 8:30 AM ET

Company Participants

Rajeev Lalwani – Vice President, Investor Relations

Chris Kubasik – Chief Executive Officer

Michelle Turner – Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Doug Harned – Bernstein

Robert Stallard – Vertical Research

Sheila Kahyaoglu – Jefferies

Scott Deuschle – Credit Suisse

Michael Ciarmoli – Truist

Seth Seifman – JPMorgan

Gautam Khanna – Cowen & Company

Robert Spingarn – Melius Research

Kristine Liwag – Morgan Stanley

Peter Arment – Baird

Richard Safran – Seaport Research Partners

Operator

Greetings. Welcome to the L3Harris Technologies Fourth Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this call is being recorded.

It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Rajeev Lalwani, Vice President, Investor Relations. Thank you and you may now begin.

Rajeev Lalwani

Thank you, Rob. Good morning and welcome to our fourth quarter 2022 earnings call. We published our investor letter after the market close yesterday. So today’s call will primarily be focused on answering your questions.

Joining me for the call are Chris Kubasik, our CEO; and Michelle Turner, our CFO. A few words on forward-looking statements and non-GAAP measures.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. For more information, please see our investor letter and SEC filings.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures is included in the Investor Relations section of our website, which is l3harris.com, where a replay of this call will also be available.

Before going to questions, Chris will make some brief comments.

Chris Kubasik

Okay. Thank you, Rajeev, and good morning, everyone. As we reported yesterday, our fourth quarter came in ahead of expectations, and our 2023 guidance points to steady or improving trends. We’ve also been active on the M&A front, consistent with our strategy, as opportunities present themselves.

Let’s start with Q4. The team delivered a solid top line, up 6% organically, with Communications leading the way as we saw improvements in electronic component availability within tactical comms. This contributed to the second consecutive quarter of organic growth for our company.

Segment margins were about what we expected, with ongoing pressures from macro factors, including inflated costs for material and labor. The net of this is EPS just above our recently guided midpoint and free cash flow at our $2 billion outlook.

Turning to 2023. We’re consistent with what we said on the last call: Expanding our revenue in the 2% to 4% range, including the Link 16 acquisition, while holding our industry-leading margins steady at about 15.5%. EPS adjusted for pension headwinds points to a stable operating results, and we’re expecting an improving cash flow profile.

Lastly, on recent M&A activity, we’ve previously discussed an opportunistic approach within our balanced capital allocation framework. We had opportunities to acquire two unique assets in ViaSat’s Tactical Data Link business and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

We closed TDL in 13 weeks and are off to a strong start with integration. In fact, our newest employees are already on the L3Harris payroll system and participating in our 401(k) and benefit programs. This acquisition positions us well to play a central role in networking and resiliency for global defense customers and fills in a needed capability as we develop our JADC2 solutions.

Regarding Aerojet Rocketdyne, it’s a national asset critical to future warfare that has a leadership position in propulsion, adding exposure to new growth markets for us with munitions, space exploration and hypersonics. It brings nearly $7 billion of backlog and tailwinds driven by global demand.

With both of these acquisitions, we’ll utilize our recent experience from our merger of equals. We expect much of the integration work for TDL to be complete once we bring Aerojet Rocketdyne into L3Harris. We’ll hold an Investor Day later in the year to talk more about the strategy and outlook for our growing company. So we’re building momentum with our strategy and look forward to executing on our performance first initiative in 2023.

With that, let’s open the line for questions.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

Thank you. We’ll now be conducting the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. And our first question comes from the line of Doug Harned with Bernstein. Please proceed with your question.

Doug Harned

Good morning. Thank you.

Chris Kubasik

Good morning Doug.

Doug Harned

Yeah. Well, this question is going to have a few parts, I’m afraid because I want to understand a little bit more about your case for Aerojet Rocketdyne. I mean, you’ve talked a lot about it being a valuable asset. It diversifies your portfolio. But as you’ve also said, it’s been a merchant supplier. So trying to understand, there are a few things here. When you look at it, what are some of the specific parts of the company that have potential for revenue synergy?

Second, are there some areas of cost reduction there beyond just corporate costs? Because I know the facilities are difficult to move, for example.

Third, are there things that you can do to improve operations and better performance for the end customers?

And then last, when you’re in this pre-close period, how do you ensure that the value of this asset doesn’t deteriorate some over time?

Chris Kubasik

Okay. Well, thank you. Let me see if I can hit all of those. I’m sure there’ll be several Aerojet Rocketdyne questions, but maybe I’ll give a longer answer than usual and try to preempt some of those.

So when we look at acquisitions, I’d like to start with the market. And when we’re looking at the market data outside of platforms, the three largest global markets for defense are C2, which is command and control; sensors and weapons. So I’m very comfortable with how we’re positioned on the first two, especially after the TDL acquisition. Our weapon presence in this $75 billion market is practically nonexistent.

So we believe that weapons, munitions, missiles, whatever you want to call them, are absolutely aligned with the current and emerging customer demand. It is a growth market for the future fight. And solid rocket motors, especially for products like Javelin, STINGER, many that we know and they’re about on a regular basis is a great way to position us in the missile and missile defense market.

So I look at that from the munition side on the space, we have a long history of working with NASA and NOAA, so relative to space exploration and observation. We already have these relationships. We’re honored or they’re honored and soon us to be able to support SLS and Artemis, and there’s visibility there for several years to come. And then the RL10 is a premium upper stage engine with well over 100 engines under contract with the ELA for the new Vulcan launch vehicle.

And I think hypersonics doesn’t really get the attention it deserves. And the other day, someone said hypersonics is the future. And the reality is hypersonics is now. And I think, this could be the crown jewel of the acquisition, and we believe there’s significant growth opportunities that are well supported by the budget and the customers.

So when I look at those three markets, I see growth. If I jump to the financials, if you will, as it relates to Aerojet Rocketdyne and what we can do, I mentioned the $7 billion of backlog, so longer cycle business gives us more visibility. I believe this will grow faster on the top line than our current portfolio.

I believe we have the ability to improve margins and get those to be more in line with potentially what we’re doing on a consolidated basis now over time. And there are several multi-year programs that will be coming up for renegotiation in the next year or two. And I believe as we continue to negotiate milestone payments, we’ll be more cash favorable. So I throw that out there to maybe answer a couple of the questions.

On the cost synergy, we believe there’s something in the $50 million range easily from eliminating the public company cost and some of the duplicative overhead. You’re right. We have no plans to move facilities, but I look at the footprint. We both have offices in D.C. We both have offices in Huntsville. There’s some low-hanging fruit there, and we really didn’t anticipate or plan at this point any synergies relative to supply chain. So we need to dig into that and of course, take the power of the new enterprise. So I think that gets us on the gets to your question, Doug, on cost synergies. And from L3Harris, we overachieved. And once we get into details, there’s potential to continue to exceed those numbers from the cost synergy.

Revenue synergy, given that these are new markets, and there’s no overlap, we have no revenue synergies at this point in time. So that, I think, is a straightforward answer. I guess on the operations, it’s clearly – I think we have great opportunities here to, to bring our skill set and enhance our – the performance of Aerojet Rocketdyne. And I look at what we did at L3Harris before the merger. Look at the TR3 program as an example, and maybe our Waco facility. Both those locations are – the TR3 program was over budget in late. Waco facility was losing money. And with the scale of the new company, more talent, processes, policies, controls, the ability to attract new people, we were able to turn not only that program, but that business around. And I think those are the capabilities that we’ll be able to bring to Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Relative to pre-closing exposure, I don’t think there’s anything unique in this relative to other acquisitions. The integration team meets on a regular basis. I would think it’s next week or the week after, we’ll start having people on-site at some of these facilities as part of the integration process.

As you would expect, Eileen Drake and I meet on a regularly – regular basis. So we, in fact, I had a call yesterday and we have one every week and sometimes more. So I think that’s how we’re going to stay in touch, and we can do whatever we can to help them. I’m optimistic that this is going to be a very accretive and successful acquisition. We’re excited. The employees are excited, and I apologize for the long answer, but I wanted to try to hit all five or six of your questions, Doug.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question is from the line Robert Stallard with Vertical Research. Please proceed with your question.

Robert Stallard

Thanks so much. Good morning.

Chris Kubasik

Good morning.

Michelle Turner

Good morning.

Robert Stallard

Chris, I’ll keep it to one following up from Doug’s question though. When you looked at Aerojet and you look to the other levers you could pull on capital deployment, why did you think this is the best option for shareholders to go with versus continuing with the share buyback? Thank you.

Chris Kubasik

All right. Well, thank you. Well, first of all, it’s consistent with our strategy. I think I’ve been talking for several years. We’re building a new company to provide more competition within the industry and to give the DoD alternatives.

So, I’ve been pretty consistent in saying we want to grow organically and inorganically. Different companies have different portfolios. And when I looked at the market and the team looked at the markets and we saw the focus and growth on munitions, it seemed to be a gap.

So, we think over the long-term to mid-term, you’re going to look back on this and see why this thing makes so much sense. I tried to lay out for Doug some of the strategy and some of the trends. But this company has some awesome employees and great technologies, and it’s a great legacy and I think there’s going to be continued growth in munitions and space and hypersonics for the long-term.

Relative to capital deployment, yes, so that — it was a — I don’t want to say it was a pretty easy decision, but it was consistent with what we wanted to do. There aren’t that many assets available in this industry. And when they come to — come available, you got to make a decision and act on them. And I’m excited that we got TDL done in 92 days and the integration is already underway. So, we can focus on getting Aerojet Rocketdyne approved and then start the integration.

If you look at the investor letter, I think it’s page 14, has a nice pie chart that kind of lays out our capital deployment over a five-year period and it shows us a fair amount of balance. But I don’t foresee us doing any acquisitions for a couple of years, as you would imagine.

We have some non-core assets that we’re going to sell, and we’re going to use those proceeds to bring down the debt over the next few years. We’ll keep annual dividend increases and remain competitive, as you would imagine.

And then we’ll repurchase shares probably at least $500 million a year to absorb any dilution and depending on cash flow and other dynamics, that number could increase as we go forward. So, Rob, I think, hopefully, that answered your question.

Operator

Our next question is from the line of Sheila Kahyaoglu with Jefferies. Please proceed with your question.

Sheila Kahyaoglu

Thank you. good morning Chris and Michelle. Chris, just on your last point, you’ve clearly been busy augmenting the portfolio with TDL and Aerojet. But how do you think about IRAD spend in 2023 versus 2022? You noted in your EPS bridge us $0.10 of internal investment headwinds and input costs. So, what are some of the products that you’re focused on and these technologies accelerators that you’re working on? And how do they contribute to your topline returning to mid-single-digit growth?

Chris Kubasik

Yes. Good morning Sheila and yes, IRAD is something that we have been investing in year-over-year. We have industry-leading IRAD kind of in the 3.5% range. We’ve significantly increased what we call ERAD, our external R&D from customers. When I look at the two together, we’re well over $2 billion. So we have a pretty good process to — a very good process to prioritize how we spend that money.

So I think through some of the exciting things, if I start in space, we’re excited about the investments that we’ve made in some new optics that we’d refer to as replicated composite optics. Basically, this is replacement for glass mirrors in telescopes made out of carbon graphite.

So the exciting thing is it’s about half the weight. It takes about two-thirds of the time to manufacture, and it’s significantly less expensive. And we’re going to be launching the first ever replicated optics in the middle of the year. So I think this is going to reduce risk. We’ll see how it performs, but this could be a game changer for a satellite business.

And the air and land domains with ViaSat. We’re investing in the advanced Tactical Data Link with a lot more resiliency. So that’s part of the whole strategy there to modernize Link 16. And I think we have the largest library of waveform. So we’re very excited about that.

And then, maybe on the maritime front, I’m pretty excited that our — we’ve talked about our Iver vehicle in the past. This is our autonomous undersea vehicle, just recently has achieved the first ever repetitive submerged launch and recovery from a torpedo tube. This is a significant step for our company, and I think it gives us an opportunity to considerably enhance the nation’s autonomous undersea capabilities.

So trying to give you some tangible examples and each of those will result in new business programs of record and maybe give you some insight to what’s coming out of all the money that we’re spending, whether it’s IRAD or ERAD.

As you probably saw in the letter in other release, we have two new segment presidents join us this year, and I can speak for them and say as they went through our portfolio and looked at the IRAD and some of the things we’re working on, both John and Sam were pretty excited about the potential. So thank you, Sheila.

Operator

Our next question is from the line of Scott Deuschle with Credit Suisse. Please proceed with your question.

Scott Deuschle

Hey, good morning and congratulations on the progress this quarter. It’s great to see.

Michelle Turner

Good morning.

Scott Deuschle

Michelle, are there any large ISR missionization contracts and the guides that haven’t been finalized yet, particularly on the international side? I’m just trying to get a sense of whether there’s any timing-related downside risk from that. Or if that’s more just an upside opportunity, if one or more contracts do go your way? Thank you.

Michelle Turner

Yes. No, I appreciate the question, Scott, and thanks for this, because it is important to note that, as we think about our guide for this year, we did take a different approach on a couple of things. Our ISR missionization business is one of them.

So to directly answer your question, no, there are not any large international ISR pursuits in the plan. We do have one domestic pursuit, which we’re anticipating in the first half of the year. We already have the aircraft. So that’s minimizing the risk, and it’s funded from a budgetary perspective. It’s our C3D program. So we have four aircraft tied around that.

And I think this is important, because as we walk through the guide that, this, along with supply chain, were the two key components when we think about how 2022 played out that’s really influencing how we’re thinking about our guide for 2023. And so I’ll just hit supply chain upfront, because I’m assuming we’re going to get the question. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t get the question.

But when we look at our guide for the current year, what we’re assuming is something consistent with what we did in the second half of 2022. Coming off of the strong Q4 results, we’re incredibly proud of all the teams across our product based businesses in particular. So I want to do a shout-out to our Tactical Communications team, WESCAM, PSPC, along with commercial aviation. We had a really strong finish to the year. And as we’re building on that momentum coming into 2023, we’re assuming that we’re having consistent results in the second half of 2022 throughout the full year of the 2023 guide.

And so to your point, Scott, around using what we learned in 2022 and influencing our 2023 outlook, there’s really two key components. One was around the ISR missionization demand. And although we’re continuing to pursue a handful of those programs with budgets being up, we’re optimistic that we’re going to be able to land a contract. We thought it was prudent at this point to not put that into our guide and it would be upside.

Operator

Our next question is from the line of Michael Ciarmoli with Truist. Please proceed with your question.

Michael Ciarmoli

Hey good morning guys. Thanks for taking the questions. Maybe just to go back to Aerojet and thinking about these cost synergies, I know they had previously executed on a $240 million cost takeout program. It seems like all of those savings went to the customers. And I’m just thinking about maybe the lack of margin expansion we’ve seen there. There’s, obviously, been challenges in the rocket motor supply chain. I think Raytheon has been pretty outspoken there. Northrop is picking up, I think, the entire GMLRS motor production this year. What’s the status of their production system? Do you think you have to make any investments? Is that contemplated in the cost synergies? And I guess maybe your level of confidence in margin expansion at that entity?

Chris Kubasik

Yeah. Thank you, Michael. We do have confidence in margin expansion. I think when you look at the customer, or you look at the portfolio mix they have, it’s like everybody in the industry, it’s a combination of cost plus and fixed price. So I’m not sure it would all go back to the customer. It should obviously — they should be able to keep it on the fixed price. But that’s in the past. I’m looking going forward.

Like any of these acquisitions, there are systems that are fragmented or maybe older technology just like when we put L3 and Harris together. Our IT organization knows how to convert these. I used my reference to ViaSat, the fact that those employees are already on our systems, and it hasn’t even been a month.

So most of the challenges, challenged program, and I know they’ve talked about it at length, seems to be at one facility. Like I said, we’ll have people down there in the next week or two. And everything has been contemplated in our business case. One of the benefits of being a large — part of a larger organization, again, this is an acquisition, not a merger, I just like to make a — an important distinction. We are buying them. They’re about one-tenth of our market cap, and this will be a quick integration relative to decisions that need to be made, and a lot of their systems will migrate on to ours, whether it’s benefits, payroll, et cetera.

On the ERP manufacturing execution systems, they’ve been putting those in. We’re familiar with those systems, familiar with those systems, familiar with the technology. And all that has been contemplated. With our scale, we have the capital. We have the IRAD. We prioritize it, and we have the ability to invest as they have been doing to make them world class.

Operator

Our next question is from the line of Seth Seifman with JPMorgan. Please proceed with your question.

Seth Seifman

Hey. Thanks very much, and good morning.

Chris Kubasik

Good morning.

Seth Seifman

I wonder, if you could talk a little bit about the kind of the medium-term outlook for the Communications business. We recently saw a management change there, and the – the details of the management change suggest that you’re looking for some really fresh and different thinking in a business that’s been kind of the core of the earnings for the company. And we’ve seen some good growth in the radio budgets in recent years. But when we look out to the middle of the decade and beyond, it doesn’t necessarily look as good. So, can you tell us about your medium-term thought process for communications?

Chris Kubasik

No. Absolutely, Seth. Yeah. I mean, Sam joined us at the beginning of the year. When I look – I know a few people were asking questions relative to Sam and the business. I mean, CS is a short-cycle business with a global footprint, a lot of Army and Marine business. And when I hired Sam, like I do everyone, I look first and foremost for someone who’s a leader versus a manager. And everywhere he’s been, he’s had success strategically, operationally and financially. Whether it’s Collins, Sikorsky, UTC, he’s led production. He’s led programs. He’s familiar with foreign military sales, direct commercial sales and a lot of experience globally. So I have no doubt he’s going to be very successful and add value to the corporation.

When I look at the medium term on comms, I don’t want to underestimate the significance of the ViaSat acquisition and the focus on – on JADC2 and the ability to connect the networks, which the customer has been talking about, it seems like, for a decade. And I’m sure there’s frustration on their part that we haven’t, as an industry, been able to – to get that across the goal line.

So when I look at the tactical radio business, we continue to see growth in the low to mid-single digits, not only here domestically where the modernization is going to continue. Internationally, in the fourth quarter, we got another contract from Australia that has been a great customer of ours. So the visibility we see continues to look good as the modernization continues the need for resiliency continues.

And then I still think there is ability for the – more of a soldier as a system that’s been talked about, but never quite brought across the goal line. So we have the ENVG goggles. We have the radios. There’s connectivity that can happen at the soldier level and also networks at a higher level. So it’s a key part of our business. And I think anything, as I’ve said before, over the past year, you look at the war in Ukraine, the ability to communicate is critical to execute the fight of the future. And our resiliency and our capability is unique, and I think it’s going to continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

Operator

Our next question is from the line of Gautam Khanna with Cowen & Company. Please proceed with your question.

Gautam Khanna

Hi. Good morning, guys.

Chris Kubasik

Good morning.

Michelle Turner

Good morning.

Gautam Khanna

I was curious, Chris, if you could talk to where you guys are in the L3 kind of integration journey. Meaning a couple of years ago, you guys talked about $250 million of annual cost out for a number of years kind of moving from a holding company to an integrated business, et cetera, et cetera. I’m just curious where do you think you are on that journey? And then if you could just comment also on the supply chain and the pace of healing within it assumed in the guidance and what you saw in Q4? Thanks.

Chris Kubasik

Okay. Let me take the first part. I’ll ask Michelle to talk about the supply chain. As part of our E3 continuous improvement initiative, I’d say we’re never ever complete. We talked about a three-year plan to take out $500 million. We took out $660 million. We’re going to stop trying to call out separately the one-time costs and the savings as we move into the next cycle of acquisitions. But I can assure it’s an ongoing journey.

I think we got the low-hanging fruit. We made a lot of progress. So, I’d say maybe we’re two-thirds of the way through the integration. And when I look at the IT systems, the ERP systems have come down substantially. I think we used to say there were about 100. By the end of the year, we’ll be in the 20s. So, that’s good progress.

We’ve got consistent manufacturing execution systems that we’re implementing. The one in Greenville should be done this year. We have a couple in other facilities, done a good job on all the shared services. So, in that case, that would be done. The facility moves have been done. But the team is looking at each and every function and process and continuing to optimize it.

So, like I said, we did the easy stuff and now we’re going function-by-function, relooking at the policies, the procedures, the systems and continuing to look at ways to optimize the business, which will make us faster and ultimately take cash out.

So, I’ll go with two-thirds of the way through. I’ll lateral to Michelle, see if she agrees with me and then have her give some supply chain insight.

Michelle Turner

I always agree with you, Chris. But just to add a little bit more color, I think a great example of where we’re continuing on this next phase is around our real estate and our footprint consolidation efforts. And so to Chris’ point, we took the low-hanging fruit in the first couple of years.

Byron Green and his real estate team have really been focused on what’s the next phase of that. We’re in the middle of a two-year plan to take out an additional 10% as a result — 10% of our overall sites as a result of this current operating environment where we have more of a hybrid workforce.

So, it’s continuing to be an evolution that’s going to continue to pay dividends for. It’s really helping to offset some of the macro inflationary challenges that are permeating across the industry.

And then just to give a little bit more color from a supply chain perspective, I talked about our 2023 guide. And the word I would use is — to describe it as a balanced approach. Again, the guide assumes it’s consistent with our second half 2022 performance. But just to make this a little bit more tangible, I think it’s helpful to think about what’s different as we think about 2023 versus what remains the same at the start of, say, 2022 or at the end of 2021.

So, I’ll illuminate a few things for you because I think it helps bound the risk as you think about our guidance. Frankly, it’s how we’re managing the business internally. So, what’s the same? What’s the same is we do continue to see hiccups from an overall supply chain ecosystem perspective. This is consistent across our industry and other industries. This is something that’s become a bit of the new norm.

What’s also consistent is we do continue to be on a 90-day allocation process with our microelectronic chip manufacturers. And this is a really important point because even when we continue to see the improvements like we did within Q4, the reality is the insights that we’re getting to our supply from a chip perspective is good for about 90 days out. Then it gets more nebulous as we get into the latter part of the year.

And then finally, I know we’ve put some of this within our Q3 earnings call. But just a reminder, 25% of our portfolio, which is different than our peers, is tied to in product deliveries. But if we’re short on chips or we’re short on washers or nuts, we’re not going to be able to deliver that radio or that turret. And so those things remain the same as you think about our 2023 guide.

Now what is different, right? And we’ve been talking about a lot of this in 2022, but what’s really different is those proactive actions that we took last year to be purposeful and focusing on the things we can control. They help to minimize the risk in 2023. And so just a reminder, engineering redesigns were a big focus for 2022. We get the full value of that benefit in 2023. Our alternate part bank within our Tactical Communications Systems business is up to 1,000 parts. That would have been at 100 parts in 2021. Our overall revenue base in terms of DPAS coverage, it’s also increased double digits. So that aids in the prioritization of our supply and material availability.

And then finally, I think this is the most important predictive indicator is the number of critical parts. When we started and we felt the most acute impact from supply chain was really in the second half of 2021. We had hundreds of critical part shortages at that time. Fast forward to where we are today, and we’re in the 10s in terms of the impact and what we’re having to manage through.

So the way I would characterize this is we continue to see sequential improvement from a supply chain perspective. We’re not out of the woods by any means. And so as a result, we’re taking a balanced approach to 2023, and that’s what’s reflected in our guide.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Robert Spingarn with Melius Research. Please proceed with your question.

Robert Spingarn

Hi. Thank you. So Michelle, just on the back of all of that, it seems like the positives are there might support higher margins in 2023. Now I know the guidance range allows for that. But what would cause the downside?

Michelle Turner

Yeah. No, great questions. So let me walk through from a margin perspective. I’ll start from the overall enterprise, right? To your point, Rob, we are assuming flattish margins, 15.4, 15.5-ish. From a headwind perspective, we are assuming continued macro inflationary challenges of about $400 million, so about 2.5% of our overall revenue. And we also have some headwinds from a mix perspective. Chris talked about where we’re investing in space. Kelly and her team are doing phenomenal in terms of growing the business.

At the same time, however, that will be a drag on our margins. As these new programs come on board, we typically book them at lower rates. And as we mitigate the risk, we start to see the profitability in those programs improve. So from a headwinds perspective, inflationary, challenges and mix, that is being offset by our continued strong E3 savings program, as Chris alluded to earlier. Real estate is a great example of that.

Another great example is the voluntary retirement program that we announced at the end of Q3 last year. That’s going to help to pay dividends and offset the merit increases that we’re planning for from a human capital perspective. And then we’ve also assumed some level of commercial pricing.

To your point, specifically, Rob, like what is the downside? The downside, from my perspective is this continuation of the unknown unknowns from an inflationary challenge perspective, right? There was a lot that permeated within 2022 that it felt like it was more of a reactionary year. And so, as a result, we’re doing everything that we can to control the controllables. And we will prudently manage through that as we make our way through 2023.

Chris Kubasik

And I’ll just chime in that, if you recall, last time we talked about the importance of our workforce, keeping them engaged and motivated and focusing on some of the attrition. And recall, in October, we talked about some of the things we’re doing that are unique. Michelle mentioned the increased merit.

We also held all the benefit costs flat from an employee perspective. We’ve increased the budget for spot awards to recognize performance and some of the other initiatives. And that was a headwind and investments of over $100 million that we’re absorbing in 2023 and that provides a little bit of a drag, but it was the right thing to do, and I’m confident it’s going to pay off.

Operator

Next question comes from the line of Kristine Liwag with Morgan Stanley. Please proceed with your question.

Kristine Liwag

Hey. Good morning, guys. Chris, earlier you mentioned that the ViaSat deal closed 90 days ahead of expectations. Was this something that you did differently with this acquisition to help speed up the regulatory review? And how much of that playbook is applicable to the Aerojet Rocketdyne deal?

Chris Kubasik

Yes. Great question and good morning, Kristine. Yes, I said we closed it in 92 days. We have been forecasting mid-year. We made all the appropriate filings for HSR. We responded to all the questions within the 30-day period, for ViaSat that is. There are some international approvals. And I think when you just looked at it, it made a lot of sense, and we weren’t sure how that process was going to play out.

Relative to Aerojet Rocketdyne, mid-January, we made our HSR filing. We all know the FTC is reviewing it. We’ve been very responsive in answering their questions, and we’ll see how that process works out. We’re — Eileen and I met with key customers jointly in the Pentagon to explain the rationale and answer their questions.

So, I think it’s just being transparent, being responsive and getting the data request in, in a timely manner, so the process can work. So we’ll see how it plays out. But so far, everything is tracking.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Peter Arment with Baird. Please proceed with your question.

Peter Arment

Good morning, Chris, Michelle. Hey, Chris, the TD acquisition seems like it’s a really great fit, as you kind of highlighted that you had two kind of capabilities. Maybe you could just talk a little bit about, if you see like a big product upgrade cycle or with that road map or what kind of opportunity it is for L3. Thanks.

Chris Kubasik

Yes. Thanks, Peter. Now look, we’ve talked about Link 16 being on 20,000 platforms. And that really gives us the ability to upgrade and modernize. So when I mentioned the IRAD we’re spending on the advanced data tactical link, that’s an obvious fit.

One of the things we focused on in the negotiation, this was a carve-out. So that’s a little unique as to what we buy, what we don’t buy. And we really wanted to get access to a relatively small piece of the business, which was the Link 16 to space and Link 16 and Viasat’s on the SDA transport. Later this year will be a launch. We will have the first-ever Link 16 capability in space. And I think, again, that’s kind of the hidden jewel in this thing. There’s going to be Link 16 in space. The connectivity from space to air is a game changer to focus on resiliency. So relative to revenue synergies, we’re very excited about the potential here with ViaSat. So the upgrade is going to happen. We’re investing in new products. We also have the existing product production that’s going well. So I think we’re going to look back on this one. It’s going to look pretty successful and pretty straightforward and off to a good start. So hopefully, that helps.

Operator

Thank you. Our final question comes from Richard Safran with Seaport Research Partners. Please proceed with your question.

Richard Safran

Thanks. Chris, Michelle, Rajeev, good morning.

Chris Kubasik

Good morning.

Richard Safran

Chris, last year, I’m going to try two, because I think they’re quick. So your letter indicates you’re getting compensated for inflation on new contracts. I was just wondering on existing fixed price contracts, is the government allowing you any adjustments based on higher unforeseen costs? And if so, would that the upside to your guide? Second question is Chris, just given your knowledge on – I asked this of your competitors. It seems to be just a general view that, as we move into a deficit reduction, defense is going to be the bill payer. I was kind of curious about, though, your view of sentiment on the Hill and for continued defense spending and funding modernization? Thanks.

Chris Kubasik

Yeah. Thanks, Rich. On the first one, we have not received any compensation for inflation on fixed price contracts nor have we asked for any. Similar to COVID expenses and others, we just absorbed it as part of the business. I just kind of feel like we survived the these three years, and everything is looking much better on the upside.

Obviously, if we got money, that would be upside. But as of now, we’re just moving forward and focused on the new contracts. If something changes or if the DoD encourages us to bring forward a claim of some sort, we’ll do it. But there have to be clear documentation. It’s not as easy as you would think to prove that.

On the deficit reduction, it’s something we’re all watching. I referenced in the letter. And we’re excited to actually have a defense budget to start our fiscal year. So a shout-out to everybody in the lame-duck section – the lame-duck session for getting that done. And it’s a big deal for us and a big deal for the industry and probably even a bigger deal for the Department of Defense.

So I think that’s the type of thing that gives us confidence in the future. I mean, one thing is for certain. It’s really hard to predict how that’s going to kind of play out. I’m really not in the camp that thinks DoD is going to be the bill payer. I know, there’s some rhetoric around that. People say things to get different leadership positions in Congress. But when you look at the threats out there, it’s just hard to justify flattening or reducing the defense budget, and it’s a dangerous world. And that comes back to these acquisitions and looking what’s going to matter at the end of the day and what the future fight is. And it’s situational awareness with ISR, it’s resilient comms, and it’s munitions. So I like where we are relative to those positions, Rich.

Chris Kubasik

So I think with that, we’ll wrap up. So I appreciate everybody calling in. I’m a big believer in momentum, and I feel like we have the beginning of some momentum with two consecutive quarters of growth, some acquisitions. I don’t know if you can hear it in my voice and Michelle’s, but we’re really excited about the future and what the potential brings. And I know the initial feedback from the ViaSat employees has been all positive and the Aerojet Rocketdyne employees.

And we’ve actually heard from many of the former Aerojet Rocketdyne employees who are also excited about the transaction. So, we’re going to focus on the closing, get this deal done. And once it’s closed, we’re looking forward to connecting with any former Aerojet Rocketdyne employees and welcome them back if they’re passionate about the mission. So, I think it’s going to be an exciting couple of years.

But before I sign off, I wanted to recognize and thank Dana Mehnert for his 38 years of service. As you know, Dana announced his retirement in Q4 and is assisting with a smooth transition. So, we appreciate that, Dana and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. And I want to turn it over to Michelle real quick.

End of Q&A

Michelle Turner

So, thank you, everyone, for joining the call today and for your continued interest in our company. Before we disconnect, I just want to take a minute. As many of you know, this will be Rajeev’s last earnings call with us. And I want to thank you, Rajeev, for your contributions in our Investor Relations function, overall L3Harris and for me, personally, for my transition over the last year. We all wish you the very best in this next adventure. So, thank you.

Operator

This concludes today’s teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation and have a wonderful day.