Leidos has secured a contract extension valued at up to $127 million from the U.S. Army to continue delivering advanced airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. According to the provisions of the contract, the company will be expected to offer sustained operational support of the Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) for the U.S. European Command theater of responsibility through to summer 2027.
The contract extension extends a partnership initiated by Leidos back in 2020, under which the company had been offering high altitude ISR platforms to aid defense leadership with maintaining situational awareness and detecting potential threats.
Contractor-Owned and Contractor-Operated (CO/CO) Platform Architecture
The ARTEMIS platform uses the CO/CO architecture and involves the use of the modified Bombardier Challenger 650 business aircraft. Leidos provides an end-to-end operational capability, offering the airframe and sensor suites, flight operations, and field support services.
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Once a technological demonstration project, the system has developed into an intelligence platform that is capable of worldwide deployment at very high altitudes. The integration of commercial airline efficiencies with military surveillance technologies makes the platform scalable for dynamic coverage needs across multiple theaters for the U.S. military.
“ARTEMIS combines the flexibility of commercial aircraft with military-grade sensing to deliver timely intelligence wherever commanders need it,” said Jason McCarthy, Leidos senior vice president, Airborne & Mission Solutions. “As threats continue to evolve, we’re providing the Army with a proven, rapidly deployable ISR capability that helps commanders stay ahead of the fight and make decisions with greater confidence.”
Alignment with Defense Procurement and Strategic Growth
The contract extension was finalized through the U.S. Army’s Common Hardware Systems-6 (CHS-6) prime contract vehicle. Designed to accelerate the procurement of C5ISR hardware and tactical services, CHS-6 offers the Army, joint service branches, and partner federal agencies streamlined access to mission-critical operational technologies.
The award is in line with Leidos’ wider NorthStar 2030 strategy as it grows its Defense Tech and Mission & Digital Solutions business units. With its expansion in high altitude ISR and decision advantage technologies, the company is continuously enhancing defense preparedness for emerging geopolitical security issues.
