Harris Corp. and L3 Technologies Inc. said Sunday they will combine in the largest-ever defense industry merger, as the Pentagon expands budgets with an eye toward increased investment by contractors and quicker weapons development.

The two contractors agreed to a merger that will form one of the industry’s largest players, a $33.5 billion behemoth to challenge weapons makers such as Raytheon Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. With product lines spanning communications and electronics, the newly formed L3 Harris Technologies Inc. is poised to capitalize on military spending increases under U.S. President Donald Trump.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) today announced that it has become the sole owner of SOC LLC (SOC) a leading provider of security, logistics and life support services to the U.S. Government domestically and abroad.

D&Z also announced the appointment of Steve Selfridge, an executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience in government and commercial businesses, as President of SOC. “I’m excited about the opportunity to take SOC to the next level working with the entire SOC team,” said Mr. Selfridge. "There is a tremendous opportunity to build upon the positive momentum SOC has seen in recent years as an industry leader,” he added.

A press release from Constellis Holdings signals major news in the High Threat Security Industry. Academi, the company formerly known as Blackwater and Xe, will join Triple Canopy along with a handful of other high threat security companies under a new management structure named Constellis Holdings.

“This move allows us to create a suite of services to better provide critical support capabilities for government and commercial clients and will utilize ACADEMI’s world-class training facility, the largest and most comprehensive private training center in the U.S.” said Jason DeYonker, Managing Director of Constellis Holdings, Inc.

L-3 Communications announced today that it has successfully completed the previously announced spin-off of its subsidiary, Engility. L-3 shareholders of record as of July 16, 2012 received one share of Engility common stock for every six shares of L-3 common stock held on the record date.

The spin-off has been structured to qualify as a tax-free distribution to L-3 shareholders for U.S. federal tax purposes, except for cash received in lieu of fractional shares. Following the spin-off, L-3 will report Engility financial results as discontinued operations beginning with L-3's 2012 third quarter, along with all prior periods.