Army wraps up awards for $4.2B aerostat contract
An Army aerostat designed to track cruise missiles. Photo from 20th CBRNE Command.
By
Ross Wilkers
Army officials set up the contract to support persistent detection, surveillance and targeting missions.
The Army has finalized its award of a potential 10-year, $4.2 billion contract for aerostat system production and associated services to 10 companies.
Each company that submitted a proposal was chosen for the contract that Army officials set up to support persistent detection, surveillance and targeting missions. Awardees will vie for delivery orders to build the lighter-than-air systems, tethered systems and elevated sensors.
The Pentagon’s Thursday awards digest lists these companies as primes:
- Advanced Technology Systems
- Elevated Technologies
- Leidos
- Mission Solutions Group
- QinetiQ Group’s U.S. subsidiary
- RTX
- Skyship Services
- TCOM
- Thunderbolt
- Tyonek Technical Services
The contract is formally called “Aerostat Production, Fielding, Sustainment, and Life Cycle Support.”
An April 2024 sources sought notice describes the contract as focusing on the acquisition of 360-degree detection, surveillance and targeting capabilities. The Army was interested in purchasing large- and medium-sized systems, along with those more tactical in nature.