The U.S. Army plans to start a new program in fiscal 2025 to develop and field a new high-altitude platform capable of deep sensing, according to Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, the service’s program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors. The service wants to use sensors to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations across wider ranges at greater distances. The Army has released requests for information, he said — one in February and another in October. The service has for years experimented with high-altitude balloons and long-endurance, fixed-wing, solar-powered platforms capable of operating in the stratosphere. A year ago, the Army Requirements Oversight Council greenlighted the pursuit of high-altitude balloons and fixed-wing, solar-powered platforms along with payloads capable of deep sensing. The service is now working to get requirements approved for four other different payloads. The Army has tested deep-sensing capability through theater-level exercises in the Indo-Pacific Command and European Command areas of operations. The Army’s multidomain task forces are involved in the experimentations.