U.S. Army Inks Potential $4.2 Billion Deal for Intel-Gathering Blimps

Blimps could advance capabilities for defense and security missions.

An Aerostat U.S. blimp.
An Aerostat U.S. blimp.
Tethered Aerostat Radar System Optimization

The U.S. Army announces the award of a 10-year Multiple Award Task Order Contract with 10 Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts awarded on behalf of Product Director Aerostats Production for Fielding, Sustainment, Life Cycle Support and the replenishment of US stocks to 10 industry partners with a ceiling of $4.19 million.

Ten companies, including Leidos, Qinetiq and TCOM, will compete for work overseen by the service's intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors shop, PEO IEW&S.

Foreign military sales could also happen across European and Central commands. Poland last year announced a $1 billion arrangement.

Future task orders to be competed under this MATOC will provide hardware procurement and services, to include engineering, logistics, operation, and program management support for all requirements of the PD Aerostats program office.

This effort will support future Elevated Sensing requirements and provide continued support services to the Persistent Surveillance Dissemination System of Systems program.

This MATOC contains an option for on-ramping and off-ramping of vendors to address the Army’s emerging needs.

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