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

BAE Systems wins £5 million contract to keep BBMF Lancaster flying
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster in flight
BAE Systems wins £5 million contract to keep BBMF Lancaster flying
The aerospace group will provide specialist design and airworthiness support as PA474 undergoes an extensive overhaul at Duxford.
Aerospace Member News

28 Aug 2026

Discover Airlines sets sights on UK expansion
Discover Airlines A320-200
Discover Airlines sets sights on UK expansion
Lufthansa Group's leisure carrier, Discover Airlines, has its sights set on UK expansion, as it adds Bristol, Glasgow and Inverness to its network from summer 2027.
Aerospace

28 Aug 2026

Failed carrier Blue Islands remains in debt to Jersey Government by over £7.3 million
Blue Islands ATR
Failed carrier Blue Islands remains in debt to Jersey Government by over £7.3 million
Nine months after the failure of the regional airline, the government has managed to recover around £1.8 million from the liquidator.
Aerospace

28 Aug 2026

Retired Air Vice-Marshal for the Royal Air Force Tom Burke joins GA-ASI
RAF Protector
Retired Air Vice-Marshal for the Royal Air Force Tom Burke joins GA-ASI
Retired RAF Air Vice-Marshal Tom Burke has joined General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), drawing on his military experience to support its current defence operations in the UK and lead on strategic market development.
Defence Member News

28 Aug 2026

ZeroUSV unveils first of its new Oceanus17 USV
Oceanus17 class of USV
ZeroUSV unveils first of its new Oceanus17 USV
ZeroUSV’s brand new Oceanus17 class of unmanned surface vessel (USV) has been unveiled, officially named The Lady of the Lake, marking a key advance in the development of British autonomous maritime capabilities.
Defence Security

28 Aug 2026

Royal Navy to defend neutral Ireland from beyond the 12-mile limit
Warships of Royal Navy
Royal Navy to defend neutral Ireland from beyond the 12-mile limit
Ireland has requested Anglo-French protection during its EU presidency, but constitutional concerns will keep the warships 12 nautical miles offshore.
Defence

28 Aug 2026

Scottish space tech to power self-consuming rocket engine
Alpha Impulsion
Scottish space tech to power self-consuming rocket engine
Aurora Avionics is to supply crucial electronic systems that will deliver key electrical power functions for a pioneering new rocket engine, that aims to cut propulsion costs and support next-generation spacecraft.
Space

27 Aug 2026

STFC reveals latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows
space nebula
STFC reveals latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows
Backed by an investment of £6 million, seven early-career physicists have been awarded Ernest Rutherford Fellowship’s by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), supporting research, from the search for dark matter to the physics of black holes.
Space

25 Aug 2026

Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Enpulsion space propulsion manufacturer buys UK company lift me off
Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Austrian spacecraft propulsion manufacturer ENPULSION has agreed to acquire British specialist Lift Me Off, bringing together electric and chemical propulsion capabilities in a deal that will require UK Government approval.
Member News Space

21 Aug 2026

ZeroUSV unveils first of its new Oceanus17 USV
Oceanus17 class of USV
ZeroUSV unveils first of its new Oceanus17 USV
ZeroUSV’s brand new Oceanus17 class of unmanned surface vessel (USV) has been unveiled, officially named The Lady of the Lake, marking a key advance in the development of British autonomous maritime capabilities.
Defence Security

28 Aug 2026

Antare launches AI physical security platform
Security staff
Antare launches AI physical security platform
Using AI to automatically review footage from body-worn and fixed cameras, Antare's new security platform provides organisations with a complete picture across every shift and site, transforming unwatched camera footage into intelligence.
Security

28 Aug 2026

Manchester Airports Group reports cyber security incident
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airports Group reports cyber security incident
Manchester Airports Group has reported a cyber security incident involving customer data, amid growing concern over cyber attacks in the UK.
Aerospace Security

27 Aug 2026