The US Army has launched a major $4.2-billion initiative to revolutionize long-duration, lighter-than-air surveillance with the Persistent Surveillance System – Tethered (PSS-T) program. Ten leading defense companies—including Raytheon, QinetiQ, Skyship Services, Advanced Technology Systems, Thunderbolt, Leidos, Elevated Technologies, Mission Solutions Group, TCOM, and Tyonek Technical Services—have been chosen to compete for the 10-year effort.
The Army’s goal is to harness technological advances in aerostat design and integration to deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The program solicits innovative solutions to support situational awareness amid evolving global threats, allowing for continuous observation over key territories with minimal staffing and logistical footprint.
Each competitor brings unique expertise, from complex sensor integration to robust tethered platform manufacturing, promising a dynamic competition that will shape the future of aerial ISR for US and allied military operations worldwide.
