US media reported that the US Army signed a long-term contract worth $447 million with TCOM LP to supply, support and maintain a range of military blimp systems.
The contract comes under the PSS-T program and extends until July 20, 2031. It was concluded by the US Army Contracts Command in the IDIQ format, which allows for the implementation of supplies in stages according to needs over a period of five years.
The agreement covers the entire operating cycle of the PSS-T systems, including the serial production of the balloons, their installation, maintenance, modernization, and provision of logistical support.
The PSS-T airborne surveillance system is a key tool for the U.S. armed forces, used for reconnaissance, command and control missions, including long-range, over-the-horizon surveillance. TCOM has extensive experience developing and integrating airborne systems into U.S. defense programs.
These balloons can fly at altitudes of up to 5 kilometers and remain airborne for more than 30 days without needing to land. They are equipped with radar, electro-optical sensors, infrared cameras, wide-area imaging systems (WAMI), as well as communications and reconnaissance equipment.
Experts point out that, despite the significant development in drones and space-based reconnaissance, balloon systems still hold an important position with the US military, NATO forces, and a number of other countries, as reflected in the new contract with TCOM.
The PSS-T program was launched in 2016, based on operational experience gained by the U.S. military in the Middle East, and resulted from the integration of two projects: the Continuous Threat Detection System (PTDS) and the Continuous Ground Surveillance System (PGSS).
US forces used these systems in Iraq and Afghanistan to carry out round-the-clock surveillance, detect improvised explosive devices, track enemy movements, and secure military bases.
Later, similar systems began operating on the southern border of the United States for the benefit of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), where they were used to monitor illegal crossings and continuously monitor border areas from the air.
