The US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $383 million contract to maintain, operate and sustain the persistent threat detection systems (PTDS). The tethered aerostat provides real-time, around-the-clock reconnaissance and surveillance of broad geographic areas for warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The availability of timely intelligence is vital to protecting deployed personnel and high-value assets,” said Jim Quinn, Vice President of C4ISR Systems with Lockheed Martin IS&GSDefense. “Our PTDS team will continue to provide mission critical support directly to our warfighters.”

Equipped with multiple sensors, PTDS is an aerostat-based system that delivers constant day and night, 360 degree detection, surveillance, monitoring and force protection.

“Lockheed Martin has a 80-year heritage of providing lighterthan-air systems to the military, that provides a much needed capability to keep our men and women safe in theatre,” said Colleen Arthur, Director of Integrated Defense Technologies for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors. “PTDS is a highly effective combat-proven system, and provides eyes-on-target and real-time situational awareness for our warfighter.”