UAV Remote Sensors Market Charts out a Successful Flight Path

Frost & Sullivan, LONDON, UK: Soaring demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is being accompanied by rising demand for remote sensor technologies. All the three sensor types – electro optics (EO), infrared (IR) and synthetic aperture radar with moving target indicator (SAR/MTI) – are becoming standard requirements across all emerging UAV platforms. 
 
Accelerated expansion of the global market for UAV remote sensors has been predicated on the benefits that UAVs with advanced remote sensors provide as complements to existing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. Technological advances are moreover constantly improving upon the ability of UAV remote sensors to operate remotely in dangerous environments and for extended time periods. 
 
In recent operations, UAV remote sensors have demonstrably enhanced situational awareness (SA) and surveillance capabilities through early and effective detection, identification, tracking and engagement of targets. The need for positive ID in battlefield settings has further ramped up demand for UAVs with sensor capabilities. 
 
Stand off engagement has encouraged greater accuracy in remote sensors – EO/IR sensors are continuously being refined to increase resolution, enhance auto-focusing techniques and sensitivity to thermal differences while frequent improvements in SAR have aimed to produce more user-friendly images (photographic-like radar images) and at higher resolutions and longer ranges. 
 
Technological developments promoting SA including higher resolution optics, hyperspectral imaging, low light and night vision (light intensifying) imaging have underlined the appeal of UAV EO/IR systems. The ability of SAR/GMTI (ground moving target indicator) to detect and track moving targets over wide areas has significantly reduced tactical decision making. 
 
Superior remote sensor technology paralleled by the emergence of UAVs with more payload weight capabilities will further drive market expansion. By 2014, the total European, Asia Pacific and Middle Eastern UAV remote sensors market is forecast to be $1.8 billion with China, India, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Australia and South Korea accounting for over 70 per cent of revenues. Of the three remote sensor types, SAR/MTI sensors are projected to reach the highest aggregated revenues between 2005 and 2014. 
 
Cost advantages, in terms of maintenance, training and inventory management costs, are set to promote the acquisition of UAVs over manned aircraft. However, in countries where the perceived costs of switching have been regarded as being unacceptably high, development programmes for manned aircraft have been initiated even in areas where UAVs with remote sensors would seem to offer more benefit.