General Atomics

QinetiQ selected as awardee on US Army’s PD Aerostats MATOC

QinetiQ US has been selected as an awardee on the US Army's $4 billion Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) under the US Army Product Director (PD) Aerostats programme.



Image courtesy QinetiQ

This 10-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract supports system integration, hardware procurement, engineering, logistics, operations and programme management for the PD Aerostats programme office.

The PD Aerostats MATOC encompasses support for Persistent Surveillance System – Tethered (PSS-T) platforms, future Elevated Sensing requirements and the Persistent Surveillance Dissemination System of Systems (PSDS2) programme. As the only Prime contractor operating multisite strategic and tactical class aerostat sites, supporting US border security and defence missions, QinetiQ US is positioned to deliver and sustain these critical capabilities for systems both within the United States and at overseas locations, leveraging the company’s experience and expertise to deliver persistent surveillance solutions to the US and its international allies.

QinetiQ US brings comprehensive capabilities in prime contract management, sensors integration and interoperability, including aerostat platforms, hyperspectral imaging systems and multimodal detection technologies that provide enhanced situational awareness. The company established itself as a trusted partner in advancing sensor technology for the US Army, developing intelligent processing algorithms and imaging technologies that support key modernisation initiatives. Through this integrated approach, QinetiQ delivers cohesive systems that transform sensor data into actionable intelligence across domains.

"Our integrated sensor and aerostat solutions deliver effective and affordable multidomain awareness solutions to meet the evolving threat in today’s defence and security environment," said Jonathan Riksen, executive vice president and general manager of QinetiQ US’ National & Global Security Solutions. "By combining advanced sensor technologies with our persistent surveillance platforms, we provide decision makers with actionable intelligence that creates a decisive information advantage in evolving threat environments."

QinetiQ US’s persistent surveillance solutions operate aerostats and payloads at altitudes up to 15,000 feet with 30-day continuous deployment capabilities, delivering best-in-class efficiency and the lowest cost per flight hour to meet and exceed mission requirements. The company’s turnkey approach integrates the Secure Persistent & Aware Data Ecosystem (SPADE) with comprehensive mission planning, sustainment and lifecycle management services to optimise operational effectiveness throughout the entire mission lifecycle.

Related

Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
Natalie Destry
Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
A new white paper published by STEM Returners and backed by Vice Admiral (Retd) Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE, is urging the UK Government to help bring experienced professionals back into the workforce and meet defence recruitment targets.
Royal Navy demonstrates ship-busting firepower with Naval Strike Missile and Sea Venom
Image: MOD Crown Copyright/Royal Navy
Royal Navy demonstrates ship-busting firepower with Naval Strike Missile and Sea Venom
HMS Portland and her embarked Wildcat HMA2 demonstrated the Royal Navy’s evolving maritime strike capabilities during the sinking of the former-USS Krakring off the coast of Scotland as part of Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026.
Aerospace Defence

30 Sep 2026

Bristol Airport funds three new projects to cut aviation emissions
Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport funds three new projects to cut aviation emissions
Chosen from a record number of applications, the projects target some of aviation's toughest decarbonisation challenges, from energy generation to alternative fuels.
Aerospace

30 Sep 2026

Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
Natalie Destry
Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
A new white paper published by STEM Returners and backed by Vice Admiral (Retd) Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE, is urging the UK Government to help bring experienced professionals back into the workforce and meet defence recruitment targets.
Royal Navy demonstrates ship-busting firepower with Naval Strike Missile and Sea Venom
Image: MOD Crown Copyright/Royal Navy
Royal Navy demonstrates ship-busting firepower with Naval Strike Missile and Sea Venom
HMS Portland and her embarked Wildcat HMA2 demonstrated the Royal Navy’s evolving maritime strike capabilities during the sinking of the former-USS Krakring off the coast of Scotland as part of Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026.
Aerospace Defence

30 Sep 2026

RAF Fairford: Trump questions bail decision as five suspects released
A USAF-operated B-1B Lancer takes off from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, on 5 June 2023. Image: USAF/Senior Airman Josiah Brown
RAF Fairford: Trump questions bail decision as five suspects released
British counter-terrorism police have released the five RAF Fairford suspects on bail as investigators continue to probe the incident.
Defence Security

30 Sep 2026

Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
Natalie Destry
Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
A new white paper published by STEM Returners and backed by Vice Admiral (Retd) Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE, is urging the UK Government to help bring experienced professionals back into the workforce and meet defence recruitment targets.
Skyrora completes hot-fire test of scaled-down orbital vehicle systems
Skyrora-hot-fire test of scaled-down orbital vehicle systems
Skyrora completes hot-fire test of scaled-down orbital vehicle systems
With its static hot-fire testing of a smaller scale version of its orbital launch vehicle, Skyrora is addressing engineering challenges and reducing technical risk, before scaling up the development of its Skyrora XL rocket programme.
Member News Space

30 Sep 2026

How Astroscale plans to remove a dead satellite from orbit
ELSA-M satellite removal spacecraft
How Astroscale plans to remove a dead satellite from orbit
Astroscale UK's ELSA-M mission will capture a retired Eutelsat OneWeb satellite and pull it towards atmospheric re-entry.
Space

30 Sep 2026

Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
Natalie Destry
Why skilled returners can help meet defence job targets
A new white paper published by STEM Returners and backed by Vice Admiral (Retd) Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE, is urging the UK Government to help bring experienced professionals back into the workforce and meet defence recruitment targets.
RAF Fairford: Trump questions bail decision as five suspects released
A USAF-operated B-1B Lancer takes off from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, on 5 June 2023. Image: USAF/Senior Airman Josiah Brown
RAF Fairford: Trump questions bail decision as five suspects released
British counter-terrorism police have released the five RAF Fairford suspects on bail as investigators continue to probe the incident.
Defence Security

30 Sep 2026

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force join UK leadership programme
Back in September 2022, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Crime and Intelligence Patricia Leta and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) National Operations Evelyn Thugea, RSIPF, flew from Honiara International Airport to attend the UK College of Policing ILP course in Manchester. Photo: RSIPF
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force join UK leadership programme
The programme forms part of the UK-supported Pacific Policing Leadership Programme (PPLP), which has reached almost 400 police officers across the Pacific region.
Security

30 Sep 2026