BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has given Lockheed Martin a $383 million contract to maintain, operate and sustain tethered, aerostat Persistent Threat Detection Systems.
The system 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&GS-Defense. "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 lighter-than-air systems to the military, that provides a much-needed capability to keep our men and women safe in theater," said Colleen Arthur, director of Integrated Defense Technologies for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors.
The Army's Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, Project Manager for Robotic and Unmanned Sensors at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., will provide program and acquisition management.
