The U.S. 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 and 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.

"PTDS is a highly effective combat-proven system, and provides eyes-on-target and real-time situational awareness for our warfighter."

The Army's Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, Project Manager for Robotic and Unmanned Sensors, based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., will provide program and acquisition management.