WinterGreen Research announces that it has a new study on homeland security unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Homeland security unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) markets grow as the governments worldwide realize these affordable airplanes provide a less expensive way to provide defense of a nation's borders and deterrent to intruders. These markets are poised to grow based on the creation of new services efficiencies that accrue from improved technologies. New composite materials systems are achieving consistent price declines throughout the forecast period.
The 2011 study has 653 pages and 216 tables and figures. Worldwide markets are poised to achieve significant growth as governments worldwide move to implement more cost efficient military systems and weapons delivery modalities. Vendors are building out localized distribution networks that support a UAS system in a local environment, providing remote control of airplanes.
The military UAS technology is migrating to new markets; commercial drone technology is increasingly available beyond military circles. Commercial applications are spreading fast. An unmanned aircraft that can fly a predetermined route costs a few hundred bucks to build and can be operated by iPhone.
Homeland security and commercial unmanned aircraft system (UAS) are used by countries to protect their borders and get aerial views of commercial projects. Complex systems include ground stations and other elements in addition to the aircraft. UAS are used by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other government aviation regulatory organizations.
The requirement for rapid responses to complicated contingencies and the enduring need for ever more persistent surveillance to meet each of the contingencies requires development of extended persistence, pre-positioning, maritime air take-off and landing and aerial refueling. Thin film batteries become significant. Enhanced strike capability and payloads are evolving: UASs are required to carry out an increasing number of strike missions on the battlefield. These missions mandate UASs be able to be equipped with flexible payloads and advanced autonomous target recognition capabilities. More UASs with strike capabilities will be required.
Commercial UAS may include air cargo planes flown from a remote location using a video controller. This significantly reduces the cost of logistics for moving anything. The ability to reduce the cost of transport of goods, by reducing the labor component is a significant advance in commercial activity.
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are achieving a level of relatively early maturity. Fleets of unmanned aircraft systems have begun to evolve. The U.S. Army has achieved one million flight hours for its unmanned aircraft systems fleet. This market maturity is anticipated to extend the usefulness of the technologies into homeland security and commercial markets. Unmanned aerial systems have good handling characteristics. Units are designed to perform high-speed, long-endurance, more covert, multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision-strike missions over land or sea.
Units feature a variety of internal weapons loads, including 2,000 lb Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), an Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, and an all-weather GA-ASI Lynx® Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI), maximizing both long loiter ISR and weapons carriage capabilities.