QinetiQ Secures $170M CBP Contract to Support Tethered Aerostat Radar System

QinetiQ US announced Monday that it has received a potential five-year, $170 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to provide operations and maintenance support to the Tethered Aerostat Radar System.

DHS uses TARS to obtain real-time data supporting border security efforts, QinetiQ said. 

U.S. military and law enforcement partners conducting related land, sea and air missions also utilize the data.

Under the contract, QinetiQ will sustain multidomain awareness and a persistent detection and deterrence capability. The company said it will also operate aerostats and air-surface radars, monitor ground control and data networking systems and analyze data to improve program efficiency.

QinetiQ US President and CEO Shawn Purvis, a 4×24 member and 2023 Wash100 winner, said TARS adds to the company’s decades of support for DHS and CBP and allows QinetiQ US to utilize persistent surveillance solutions in its portfolio.

Jonathan Riksen, executive vice president at QinetiQ, said the company is partnering with C Speed, Elevated Technologies and Skyship Services to work on the TARS O&M contract.