Defense demands for UAV coverage have resulted in skyrocketing hours-flown statistics within U.S. DoD alone, with 60,000 flight hours in 2004 soaring to more than 250,000 hours in 2007.  “UAS capabilities and concepts of operation (CONOPS) are ahead of a defense acquisition curve, meaning ‘rapid’ fielding of new persistent ISR UAS will still result in UAV shortages from an end-user standpoint,” according to G2 Solutions’ research director Ron Stearns.  “Pervasive UAS use is happening in spite of airspace deconfliction issues and varying UAV control philosophies because the persistent ISR capabilities they bring are unmatched.”  

The 61-page research note AB 080, defines, quantifies and forecasts unmanned persistent ISR, with a production forecast running from 2009-2019.  G2 Solutions examined hundreds of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that are military in nature, in service or expected to enter service during the forecast period.  In total, 34 UAS and/or future programs are summed to arrive at the $44.4 billion total market acquisition figure.   

Many high-profile UAS-inclusive programs will be awarded and move to production/delivery in the 2009-2019 timeframe.  These include, but are not limited to: Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS), Future Combat Systems (FCS), Watchkeeper, SkyWarrior, STUAS/Tier II and the United States Air Force Next Generation UAS.  A number of international sales and service-specific UAS purchases also contribute to this forecast. Not surprisingly, the integration of a strike capability is both a major program and cost driver, and militaries will increasingly be tasked with balancing these two capabilities.   

The report includes an installed base revenue and market share analysis of persistent ISR UAS for 2008, and individual prime/integrator forecasts by UAS over time.