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 Greater Manchester sits at the heart of the UK’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector
Invest in Manchester
Why Greater Manchester sits at the heart of the UK’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector
From graphene research and defence materials to skills and scale-up infrastructure, Greater Manchester has built an aerospace ecosystem designed to turn innovation into industry.
Aerospace Insights

20 Jul 2026

British Airways chooses Pratt & Whitney engines for next A320neo fleet
british airways a320neo
British Airways chooses Pratt & Whitney engines for next A320neo fleet
The agreement introduces Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan technology to British Airways’ latest-generation short-haul fleet from 2027.
Aerospace Member News

20 Jul 2026

UK eVTOL developer Vertical Aerospace adds Sigma Air Mobility as Valo customer
VErtical aerospace does a deal with Sigma Air Mobility backed by Luxaviation
UK eVTOL developer Vertical Aerospace adds Sigma Air Mobility as Valo customer
The agreement brings Luxaviation’s global operating experience into the UK-developed Valo programme as Vertical prepares for certification and commercial service.
Aerospace Most Read

20 Jul 2026

UK risks missing aerospace MRO boom without national strategy, NMIS warns
British Airways Airbus A380 in the MRO workshop
UK risks missing aerospace MRO boom without national strategy, NMIS warns
NMIS CTO Coreen McCubbin says the UK must invest in skills, digital technology and MRO innovation or risk losing aftermarket work to rival global hubs.
Aerospace Defence Insights

18 Jul 2026

UK commits £255m to prepare Ukraine for Saab Gripen E fighters
Saab Gripen E for Ukraine
UK commits £255m to prepare Ukraine for Saab Gripen E fighters
The package will fund training, simulators, spare parts and logistics for Ukraine’s future Gripen E fleet while supporting around 5,000 jobs across the UK defence supply chain.
Defence Most Read

17 Jul 2026

Storm Fighter to lead new RAF collaborative combat aircraft family
BAE Systems Tempest with loyal wingman drones
Storm Fighter to lead new RAF collaborative combat aircraft family
Why the RAF is now racing do develop not only a high-end CCA called Storm Fighter, but also a complementary family of smaller autonomous aircraft to fly alongside crewed fighters.
Defence Most Read

17 Jul 2026

UK space sector punches above its weight but struggles to scale
United kingdom from space by NASA
UK space sector punches above its weight but struggles to scale
Britain captures around 5% of the global space market despite accounting for approximately 1% of government space spending worldwide. However, the UK Space Agency’s final annual report warns that the country has yet to solve its persistent scale-up challenge.
Space

17 Jul 2026

Serco awarded ESA contract to support FLEX Earth observation mission
Earth observation satellite
Serco awarded ESA contract to support FLEX Earth observation mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has contracted Serco to manage and deliver FLEX satellite data products to its users.
Member News Space

17 Jul 2026

ESA selects Keysight to develop 5G NTN anomaly detection
6G network
ESA selects Keysight to develop 5G NTN anomaly detection
Keysight will serve as the prime contractor, collaborating with Sateliot to support key technical development and satellite mission integration.
Member News Space

16 Jul 2026

NPAS orders two more Airbus H135s as fleet renewal grows to nine
NPAS orders two more H135s
NPAS orders two more Airbus H135s as fleet renewal grows to nine
The aircraft will be customised at Airbus Helicopters’ Oxford facility and equipped with new Helionix avionics before entering police service.
Security

20 Jul 2026

Critical UK sectors targeted by Russian cyber actors
A hacker at a computer as government urges organisations to improve cyber security
Critical UK sectors targeted by Russian cyber actors
A new advisory has been issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and international partner agencies, urging the UK and its allies to defend against Russian state cyber actors’ global exploitation of poorly configured routers, as the UK sanctions Russian state and criminal networks for cyber and hybrid operations and calls out the FSB for a reckless attack on Poland’s energy grid.
Security

17 Jul 2026

UK defence SMEs unite under new Spearhead delivery collective
Spearhead SME member representatives
UK defence SMEs unite under new Spearhead delivery collective
Twenty-eight UK-owned defence and security SMEs have formed Spearhead, offering government and prime contractors access to specialist capability through one contract and one accountable delivery team.