April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. defense contractor L3Harris ( LHX )

cut 5% of its workforce earlier this month in a bid to

streamline its business and save costs, CEO Chris Kubasik said

in a post-earnings conference call on Friday.

The announcement confirms a Reuters report from Tuesday

which said the company would cut 5% of its workforce this year,

citing an email sent to employees.

Though U.S. defense contractors are seeing a notable

increase in orders amid conflicts in the Middle East and between

Russia and Ukraine, they continue to face headwinds from supply

chain and labor disruption stemming from the pandemic, impairing

margins.