Page 13 - ADT JANUARY 2021 Online Magazine

In High in its 2019 forecast said that the global mili- [ UNMANNED SYSTEMS ]

tary UAV market would grow at a compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.14 percent from
US$10.9bn in 2019 to US$14.8bn in 2029. The
impact of the ongoing pandemic will be felt in
Demand the short-term but expect the numbers to stay
largely true to the forecast by the end of the
decade.

Although initially sought after for its attack
capabilities, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
have become increasingly sophisticated
MILITARIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE in terms of technology and are now being
WORLD, MOST OF THEM IN THE ASIA PACIFIC, acquired for intelligence, surveillance, and
ARE LOOKING TO EITHER DEVELOP OR ACQUIRE reconnaissance (ISR) functions. The age of
military drone swarms has already dawned, and
MALE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES in future, UAVs will be able to function auton-
omously to a greater degree with the help of
artificial intelligence (AI), besides having elec-
Arun Sivasankaran tronic warfare (EW) capabilities.

Less than 10 years ago, Australia, Singapore,
South Korea and India were the only countries
Defence budgets have shrunk in many parts of the world, but not in the region having Medium-altitude, long-en-
even the ongoing pandemic is expected to impede the growth of durance (MALE) UAS, having acquired them
the military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) market. from the U.S. and Israel. China, which has an
export policy more liberal than any other coun-
Military drones reduce risk for manned aircraft while challenging try that makes military drones, has since made
next-generation air defense systems in high threat environments, massive inroads into the market. The U.S. has
but it is not just the growing appetite for standoff weapons shown traditionally erred on the side of caution when
by militaries that is triggering the demand for such UAVs. The con- it comes to exporting armed drones, but recent
siderable development investment in the sector and the acquisition developments in the U.S. promises to make
programs that have been announced in recent months all point to the market even more competitive. The Trump
a market that is set to grow substantially during the decade. administration has relaxed rules for the export
of military drones, thus giving U.S. companies
Driving Growth like General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Much of the demand in the sector is driven by militaries in the Asia (GA-ASI) and Northrop Grumman a fair chance
Pacific; North America and Europe are mature markets with not of being competitive in a market where their
much scope for substantial growth. Research and Markets had products remain in high demand.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY January 2021 | 13