The Pentagon has awarded contracts to 10 companies for the production of aerostats worth $4.2 billion, with work set to continue until March 12, 2035.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that the aerostats will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Back in April 2024, the military requested information about companies that could produce aerostats.

The Pentagon have selected the following companies:

1. Advanced Technology Systems
2. Elevated Technologies
3. Leidos
4. Mission Solutions Group
5. QinetiQ
6. Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX
7. Skyship Services
8. TCOM
9. Thunderbolt
10. Tyonek Technical Services

In operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military identified the need for a low-cost, high-speed, resilient system capable of lifting electronic surveillance equipment to high altitudes.

Since 2010, the U.S. has supported the PSS-T system (Persistent Surveillance Systems – Tethered), an aerostat system used to provide continuous or long-term aerial surveillance.

Advantages of PSS-T systems include:

• Long-term airtime: Capable of staying airborne for extended periods without requiring landing for refueling or maintenance
• Wide coverage area: Provides expansive coverage
• Cost-effectiveness: More affordable to operate than manned aircraft or drones
• No need for airfields: These aerostats do not require airfields for takeoff or landing
• Relatively quiet: Operates much quieter than airplanes or helicopters.

The US already uses Barbara aerostats for this purpose.

These systems are equipped with modern surveillance technology such as radars for scanning airspace and the earth’s surface.

They also have onboard early warning radars capable of identifying “friend or foe,” and appropriate ground control systems.

Militarnyi recently reported that Ukraine is developing a new aerostat system to combat Russian Shahed kamikaze drones, which are launched in large numbers every night.