Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Applications in Civilian and Defence Sectors

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In recent years, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have played increasingly significant roles in multiple varied combat theatres. Irregular warfare operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with a growing need to limit operational risks, have made equipment like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) indispensible for effective military operations.

The Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, made a pointed request for more reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence gathering assets in the US defence budget appeal earlier this year.

Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the request for additional UAVs – which included maximising the production of the MQ-9 Reaper variant of the RQ-1 Predator UAV, produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems – was in direct response to the conflicts taking place in Asia. The MQ-9, touted for its ‘hunter-killer’ capability, has been combat operational in Afghanistan since 2007.

"Our future security is greatly imperilled if we do not win the wars we are in," Mullen said. "The outcome of today's conflicts will shape the global security environment for decades to come."

UAV Roadmap

The United States Army also highlighted the importance of unmanned systems within its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap, which outlines the development and deployment of these technologies in military operations over the next 25 years.

Vice Chief of Staff, General Peter Chiarelli, reinforced the policy’s recommendations through emphasising that the future of the Army's UAS program centred around the "full-spectrum combat aviation brigade", wherein the use of unmanned systems would be integrated with the use of manned platforms.

"There have been many technologies introduced during this eight-and-a-half years of war. However, I don't think any has made a greater impact than UAS," Chiarello said, adding that unmanned technologies be caveated by a clear understanding of remote deployment limitations .

Casualty Reduction

The US Army’s dependence on UAS reached an impressive landmark this year when the one millionth hour of flight was logged.

Major General Jim Myles, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, explained that this meant "one million hours of aircraft flying in the air to ensure that routes are clear; to train our pilots; to make sure that people that are emplacing IEDs [improvised explosive devices] don't do so again and to track people back to weapons caches".

Myles described unmanned systems as "increasingly important to full spectrum operations" in terms of reducing casualties and managing risks.

UAS were now said to perform an important role not only in surveillance operations, but also for target acquisition; communication; and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection.

Myles also advocates the use of unmanned systems within United States airspace, which is currently prohibited.

"We must work together to convince the Federal Aviation Administration [that they should be considered in the same way as hot air balloons and gliders]," the Major General said.

Potential application of such unmanned systems might include border security enforcement, a practice already in place in parts of the European Union and Asia.

European Market

Currently the market for UAVs and UAS is dominated by the US and Israel. The global market for UAV technology totalled $5.1 billion (£3.4 billion) in fiscal year 2009, according to the recently issued Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market 2010-2020 report. In addition, the ten-year period discussed therein highlights a total expenditure of nearly $71 billion over the past 10 years.

The report identified that the civilian market may be "potentially vast" as UAVs are increasingly used for border security.

While the United States was shown to dominate the market, India and China were also forecasted to invest inUAVs in coming years.

France, Germany and the UK were said to be other potential growth markets, though government budget cuts are currently hampering development in Europe.

Defence company EADS is currently financing its own Talarion UAV project as potential clients around the world are unable to commit, the Associated Press reported.

Plans are for the Talarion systems to be in service by 2017, however it could face competition from the BAE Systems Mantis UAV.

Stefan Zoller, chief executive officer of EADS, told the news provider that completion of the project was important for the company to remain a strong player within the industry.

He explained: "You give that up you would lose the industry thereafter. Once you lose airborne military systems, what will be the consequences for sensors, avionics, for ground stations, for data links and so on?"

"That's why I say we are at a crossroads."

Contributor: Defence IQ

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