U.S. Army Invests $4.2 Billion with QinetiQ US to Boost Battlefield Surveillance with High-Altitude Aerostats.

On April 14, 2025, the U.S. Army awarded QinetiQ US a prime position on the $4.2 billion Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) under the Product Director (PD) Aerostats program. This 10-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract will support the continued advancement and deployment of tethered aerostat surveillance platforms. As part of this award, QinetiQ US will provide critical services including system integration, hardware procurement, engineering support, logistics, operations, and program management for the U.S. Army’s persistent surveillance capabilities.
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The 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron (RADES) performs system analysis and optimization of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on November 13, 2019, in support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) surveillance operations. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

This strategic contract supports key elements of the PD Aerostats program, including the Persistent Surveillance System – Tethered (PSS-T), the Persistent Surveillance Dissemination System of Systems (PSDS2), and the development of future elevated sensing technologies. These initiatives are central to the Army’s long-term strategy to improve situational awareness and multi-domain intelligence capabilities in both domestic and overseas operational environments.

QinetiQ US, recognized as the only prime contractor currently operating both strategic and tactical-class aerostat systems at multi-site locations, brings a comprehensive portfolio of technologies and mission support services to the Army. The company has been instrumental in supporting U.S. border surveillance and overseas defense operations, and is now well-positioned to expand these efforts under the new MATOC award.

"Aerostats offer an unmatched capability for persistent surveillance over wide areas, which is essential for today’s complex and dynamic threat environments," said Jonathan Riksen, Executive Vice President and General Manager of QinetiQ US’s National & Global Security Solutions. "Our integrated sensor and aerostat solutions deliver effective and affordable multi-domain awareness that provides decision-makers with actionable intelligence and a decisive information advantage."

QinetiQ US’s aerostat platforms are equipped with advanced sensor packages, including electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) imaging systems, hyperspectral sensors, and multi-modal detection technologies. These payloads can operate continuously for up to 30 days at altitudes of 15,000 feet, offering wide-area monitoring and precision tracking capabilities at a significantly lower cost per flight hour compared to traditional aerial surveillance assets.

The company’s approach integrates its proprietary Secure Persistent & Aware Data Ecosystem (SPADE) into every aspect of the mission lifecycle — from initial planning to long-term sustainment — ensuring end-to-end visibility, security, and data fusion. By combining advanced sensor technologies with real-time processing algorithms and robust data dissemination platforms, QinetiQ US provides the Army with a scalable and adaptable surveillance solution.

The Persistent Surveillance System – Tethered (PSS-T) is a cornerstone of the Army’s elevated ISR strategy. It includes both large, strategic-class aerostats capable of long-range surveillance and smaller, tactical-class systems designed for forward-operating environments. PSS-T systems are deployed in support of various missions such as base defense, convoy protection, counter-IED operations, and border security. By offering persistent, day-and-night surveillance with wide-area detection capabilities, these systems enhance force protection and enable rapid response to emerging threats.

Additionally, the Persistent Surveillance Dissemination System of Systems (PSDS2) integrates feeds from multiple ISR platforms — including aerostats, unmanned systems, and ground sensors — into a cohesive command and control architecture. This enables real-time situational awareness and intelligence sharing across military units, coalition partners, and command structures, which is vital in high-tempo operational theaters.

Aerostat-based systems have proven especially valuable in environments where long-duration surveillance is required but where satellite or drone-based ISR may be limited due to cost, range, or endurance constraints. The ability to station an aerostat for extended periods without the need for continuous refueling or maintenance offers the U.S. Army a low-risk, high-return option for monitoring large operational areas.

With global security threats evolving rapidly, the U.S. Army continues to invest in elevated ISR platforms that can operate in contested and denied environments. This latest MATOC award reflects the Army’s ongoing commitment to modernization and to maintaining a strategic edge across all domains — land, air, maritime, space, and cyber.

Through this contract, QinetiQ US reaffirms its role as a trusted partner to the Department of Defense, delivering critical capabilities that align with Army transformation goals and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) objectives. As international demand for persistent surveillance capabilities increases, this award also strengthens QinetiQ’s ability to support U.S. allies with scalable, mission-ready solutions.