Bravura to Lead U.S. Army's Aerostat Management Under $306 Million Contract

Persistent surveillance systems protect troops thanks to unprecedented monitoring

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Bravura; Lockheed Martin

Sep 27, 2016, 05:06 ET

ABERDEEN, Md., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bravura Information Technology Systems, Inc. will ensure operations, maintenance and sustainment of the U.S. Army's aerostats under a new program called Persistent Surveillance Systems – Tethered (PSS-T). This $305.7 million U.S. Army contract combines the capabilities of the Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) and the Persistent Ground Surveillance System (PGSS), which were fielded to support joint urgent operational needs.

Lockheed Martin Logo (PRNewsFoto/Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin Logo (PRNewsFoto/Lockheed Martin)
TCOM Inc.
TCOM Inc.
Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems, like those developed by Lockheed Martin and TCOM (pictured here), have proven especially effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity. The companies are subcontractors to Bravura, who will manage the U.S. Army's aerostats under a new U.S. Army contract called Persistent Surveillance Systems - Tethered. Photo courtesy TCOM.
Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems, like those developed by Lockheed Martin and TCOM (pictured here), have proven especially effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity. The companies are subcontractors to Bravura, who will manage the U.S. Army's aerostats under a new U.S. Army contract called Persistent Surveillance Systems - Tethered. Photo courtesy TCOM.
Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems, like those developed by Lockheed Martin and TCOM, have proven effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity. Pictured here is the Lockheed Martin Persistent Threat Detection System. Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin.
Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems, like those developed by Lockheed Martin and TCOM, have proven effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity. Pictured here is the Lockheed Martin Persistent Threat Detection System. Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin Logo (PRNewsFoto/Lockheed Martin) TCOM Inc. Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems, like those developed by Lockheed Martin and TCOM (pictured here), have proven especially effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity. The companies are subcontractors to Bravura, who will manage the U.S. Army's aerostats under a new U.S. Army contract called Persistent Surveillance Systems - Tethered. Photo courtesy TCOM. Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems, like those developed by Lockheed Martin and TCOM, have proven effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity. Pictured here is the Lockheed Martin Persistent Threat Detection System. Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin.

"These aerostats provide crucial information and protection for our men and women in uniform who serve in remote and dangerous locations," said Bravura CEO Claudine Adams. "We are thrilled that our dedicated team will support these key programs and continue the important legacy of aerostat innovation."

To help protect troops in the field, the U.S. Army has placed an increased emphasis on providing more and better intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems have proven especially effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity.

PSS-T provides warfighters with an effective ISR capability, support to force protection and platforms to extend communications networks beyond line of sight. Filled with helium and attached to mobile mooring systems by high-strength tethers, PSS-T large and medium aerostats have scalable capabilities providing around the clock surveillance of broad areas for weeks.

Bravura is partnering with Lockheed Martin and TCOM to help meet its efforts to support combatant commanders and joint agency requirements. Each company's innovative capabilities will be instrumental in technical consolidation and operational streamlining for the new program.

Lockheed Martin, the PSS-T Large developer, delivered its first lighter-than-air (LTA)-based persistent ISR systems to the U.S. Navy more than 75 years ago and has produced more than 300 airships and thousands of aerostats in support of military operations world-wide.

"We are pleased to partner with Bravura to extend our legacy of lighter-than-air innovation, engineering and production," said Paula Hartley, vice president, Advanced Product Solutions, Lockheed Martin. "PTDS has performed exceptionally in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004 and we are looking forward to many more years of supporting our customers' needs for affordable, reliable aerostat systems." 

TCOM, with operations in over 12 countries, is the PSS-T Medium developer and a global authority in airborne persistent surveillance solutions. For over 40 years, TCOM innovations have defined the LTA industry, and its pioneering achievements continue to revolutionize the design, manufacture and deployment of LTA systems. 

"We are proud to join Bravura as they continue providing the combat proven PGSS platforms for soldiers abroad," said Ron Bendlin, president, TCOM. "PSS-T, as a program of record, represents an enduring aerostat capability for the U.S. Army, and TCOM looks forward to supporting Bravura with cost effective and innovative solutions in the years ahead."

Other PSS-T team members include: Tobyhanna Army Depot, which provides logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems; Dragoon Technologies, Inc., a service-based engineering company providing advanced systems integration and installation for airborne ISR platforms;  Priority Worldwide Services, which provides supply chain solutions globally;  Accent Controls, Inc., an entrepreneurial systems integration engineering firm; Cape Fox Professional Services, which provide advanced technology and safety training solutions to federal clients; Digital Results Group, which provides web-enabled software and technology solutions that fuse, in real-time, sensor and intelligence data to support operations; and STS International, which protects U.S. infrastructure and forces both at home and abroad.

Work on the PSS-T program will be performed in Aberdeen and Columbia, Maryland, Melbourne, Florida and Akron, Ohio.

For additional information, visit www.bravurainc.com.

About Bravura
Headquartered in Aberdeen, Maryland, Bravura is a woman-owned, minority owned, small disadvantaged business with a wealth of Department of Defense, Army, and intelligence community experience. With over 30 years of experience, Bravura employs a highly skilled leadership team of proven and experienced personnel. Our professionals are ready to provide quality driven, customer focused, schedule-determined, risk mitigated and cost restrained solutions to help our clients gain maximum value for mission success.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

About TCOM

TCOM's headquarters is in Columbia, Maryland, and the Manufacturing & Flight Test Facility is located near Elizabeth City, North Carolina. TCOM is the world's leading company specializing in cost-effective LTA surveillance solutions with in-house aerostat and airship manufacture, assembly, flight test and training capabilities.

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SOURCE Bravura; Lockheed Martin