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

Stewart Wingate returns to lead Gatwick board as Northern Runway delivery begins
London Gatwick Airport
Stewart Wingate returns to lead Gatwick board as Northern Runway delivery begins
The former chief executive will succeed Baroness Margaret Ford as Gatwick shifts from securing runway approval towards delivery.
Aerospace

18 Sep 2026

Mark Johnston appointed Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport
Mark Johnston
Mark Johnston appointed Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport
Moving from his role as Chief Operating Officer at London Gatwick, Mark is taking up the role of Chief Executive at Edinburgh Airport.
Aerospace

18 Sep 2026

NATS report finds one-millisecond fault behind airspace disruption
NATS air traffic controller
NATS report finds one-millisecond fault behind airspace disruption
A hidden fault affecting the allocation of aircraft squawk codes caused six hours of disruption and will now face an independent CAA review.
Aerospace

18 Sep 2026

UK MoD receives AI-powered signal intelligence from Babcock’s Nomad platform
Nomad
UK MoD receives AI-powered signal intelligence from Babcock’s Nomad platform
Meeting a vital front line requirement for UK Armed Forces, Babcock has provided the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a new signal intelligence capability from its AI-powered Nomad platform
New British Army accommodation built at Upavon
British Army accommodation built at Upavon
New British Army accommodation built at Upavon
Under a Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contract, Reds10 and Arcadis have delivered over 200 new bedspaces for Service personnel at Trenchard Lines, Upavon, as part of an investment in British Army accommodation.
Defence Member News

18 Sep 2026

Inside the Royal Navy exercise bringing more than 30 ships and aircraft to UK waters
HMS Queen Elizabeth passing Portsmouth Harbour
Inside the Royal Navy exercise bringing more than 30 ships and aircraft to UK waters
More than 30 ships and aircraft will operate north and east of the UK during Exercise Strike Warrior 26 as HMS Queen Elizabeth begins its autumn NATO training.
Defence

18 Sep 2026

UK project to beam power from the ground to PHASA-35 in bid for year-round stratospheric flight
PHASA-35
UK project to beam power from the ground to PHASA-35 in bid for year-round stratospheric flight
Space Solar will develop a 5.8 GHz wireless power system for PHASA-35 under a £1.3m ARIA project aimed at enabling year-round stratospheric flight.
Aerospace Space

17 Sep 2026

Teledyne imaging sensors launch on ESA’s Sentinel-3C and FLEX Missions
ESA's FLEX
Teledyne imaging sensors launch on ESA’s Sentinel-3C and FLEX Missions
The two European Space Agency (ESA) climate-monitoring missions will provide observations of Earth’s oceans, land surfaces and vegetation, using optimised hyperspectral imaging technology from Teledyne Space Imaging.
Space

17 Sep 2026

Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Open Cosmos
Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Harwell-based Open Cosmos has raised €300m to expand satellite manufacturing and space-based intelligence as the UK strengthens sovereign capability.
Defence Space

16 Sep 2026

UK MoD receives AI-powered signal intelligence from Babcock’s Nomad platform
Nomad
UK MoD receives AI-powered signal intelligence from Babcock’s Nomad platform
Meeting a vital front line requirement for UK Armed Forces, Babcock has provided the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a new signal intelligence capability from its AI-powered Nomad platform
King warns of “existential dangers” of AI as tech leaders meet in Scotland
HM the King with attendees at AI conference in Scotland
King warns of “existential dangers” of AI as tech leaders meet in Scotland
King Charles urged leading AI companies to keep humans in control of powerful systems. Here's how UK defence and aerospace firms can prove AI is safe.
Insights Security

17 Sep 2026

MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
MSI-DS unveiled the TERRAHAWK RAPTOR during the opening day of DVD2026 on 16 September 2026. This RWS is optimised for C-UAS operations. Image: MSI-DS
MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
The new TERRAHAWK RAPTOR remote weapon station is designed for integration across tracked and wheeled platforms, including 4x4 vehicles and UGVs, as MSI-DS targets growing demand for mobile C-UAS capability.
Defence Security

16 Sep 2026