The US Army has selected 10 defense firms to compete for a $4.2-billion program to develop a next-generation, lighter-than-air surveillance balloon.
Raytheon, QinetiQ, Skyship Services, Advanced Technology Systems, and Thunderbolt have been named among the participants in the 10-year initiative, known as the Persistent Surveillance System – Tethered (PSS-T).
They will be joined by Leidos, Elevated Technologies, Mission Solutions Group, TCOM, and Tyonek Technical Services, each bringing specialized capabilities in aerostat design, integration, and mission support.
The army first issued a solicitation for PSS-T in mid-2024, seeking industry solutions to enhance persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities amid evolving geopolitical threats.
A total of 10 bids were submitted for the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.
Advanced Detection Capability
The PSS-T is envisioned as a long-endurance, multi-sensor surveillance platform capable of delivering 360-degree detection, tracking, and targeting data.
Designed to operate at altitudes up to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), the system will provide near-continuous coverage in support of joint and multinational operations.
It will be equipped with advanced electro-optical/infrared sensors and high-resolution radar to monitor vast areas in real time, including detecting low-observable platforms like stealth aircraft.
The PSS-T aims to close critical gaps in aerial surveillance, particularly in the “near-space” zone exploited by adversaries in recent years.
“As demand signals continue to increase, aerostat systems will be key in delivering persistent capabilities worldwide,” said Lareina Adams, an official from the Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors.
Delivering on Strategic Priorities
The initiative follows heightened urgency around ISR modernization after the February 2023 Chinese high-altitude balloon incursion, which overflew Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
The incident was widely regarded as a “national security wake-up call,” with reports indicating the balloon collected critical intelligence before it was neutralized.
In response, the US Army signaled as early as December 2023 its intent to launch a high-altitude ISR development program in 2025, an effort now materializing through PSS-T.
Once fielded, the PSS-T is expected to dramatically improve the army’s ability to detect, assess, and respond to aerial threats with greater speed and precision.
