Europe will continue to lag badly in the burgeoning unmanned air vehicle (UAV) sector, a market that is expected to more than double in size to $4.5 billion over the next decade, a forthcoming study will reveal.
Virginia, US-based Teal Group predicts that the US will account for more than 75% of worldwide research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) in the sector, as well as more than 60% of the procurement.
The study notes that, despite aerospace industry consolidation in Europe, UAV programmes on the continent have been dominated by scattered national programmes, with joint multi-national efforts such as EuroMALE and Neuron only in the early stages of development.
Analysis
The defence market analysis firm believes that efforts by the US military will continue to be the most significant catalyst in the UAV marketplace, with the country's efforts in the sector closely tied to broader trends in information warfare and netcentric systems.
Not only are UAVs a key component of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance portions of this revolution, the study foresees them expanding into other missions with the advent of hunter-killer and other types of unmanned combat air vehicles.
Teal believes a civil UAV market will start to emerge in the next few years, with bodies such as coast guards, border police and forest services increasingly using the vehicles for surveillance purposes.
Virginia, US-based Teal Group predicts that the US will account for more than 75% of worldwide research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) in the sector, as well as more than 60% of the procurement.
The study notes that, despite aerospace industry consolidation in Europe, UAV programmes on the continent have been dominated by scattered national programmes, with joint multi-national efforts such as EuroMALE and Neuron only in the early stages of development.
Analysis
The defence market analysis firm believes that efforts by the US military will continue to be the most significant catalyst in the UAV marketplace, with the country's efforts in the sector closely tied to broader trends in information warfare and netcentric systems.
Not only are UAVs a key component of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance portions of this revolution, the study foresees them expanding into other missions with the advent of hunter-killer and other types of unmanned combat air vehicles.
Teal believes a civil UAV market will start to emerge in the next few years, with bodies such as coast guards, border police and forest services increasingly using the vehicles for surveillance purposes.
Source: Flight Daily News
