Press Release

Contact: Andrew Dardine, Research Analyst

Phone: (203) 426-0800

Fax: (203) 426-4262

Web site: www.forecast1.com

E-mail: andrew.dardine@forecast1.com

Forecast International, Inc.

22 Commerce Rd. Newtown, CT  06470 USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sensor Development Takes Lead in Active Land and Sea-Based EO Market

 

NEWTOWN, Conn., October 2, 2003 – Defense agencies worldwide are expected to spend approximately $12.8 billion through the next ten years on the development and procurement of key electro-optical (EO) technology, according to a new report from Forecast International.  "The Market for Land and Sea-Based Electro-Optical Systems"projects that annual production will peak at 63,589 systems in 2005, with an estimated total of 545,026 individual systems being produced through 2012.

"The immediate need for improved night vision and thermal imaging systems and improved EO sensors for a wide variety of individual soldier systems, military vehicles and naval vessels appears to be the driving force behind these significant procurement increases, especially in the early years,"said the report's author, Andrew Dardine.  

The drive to equip land-based military forces with the most sophisticated electronic systems available has been a boon to manufacturers of thermal imaging systems, according to the report.  In the current U.S. defense budget, research and development funding for the Night Vision Advanced Technology Combat Vehicles effort received a substantial boost.  Upwards of $307 million over the next ten years is expected to be spent to improve the situational awareness of operators of almost every type of military vehicle.  Through 2012, Forecast International expects that over 1,000 of Raytheon's Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) systems will be produced for the U.S. Army's M1A2 Main Battle Tank.

Now fully incorporated into goggles, targeting systems, combat vehicles and so much more, night vision technology continues to be one of the steadiest growing segments of the overall EO market.  Funding for the U.S. Army's Night Vision Technology Exploratory Development program is expected to rise over the next several years to meet the challenge of producing such cutting edge systems as Soldier Vision System Components, Battlespace Sensors, and Compact Lightweight 3D Sensors. Through 2012, over $250 million is expected to be spent on these program efforts.

Advanced EO equipment is finding an increasingly comfortable place among the emerging soldier systems, such as Land Warrior in the U.S., FELIN in France, and the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) in the United Kingdom.  Many of these developing systems are cutting edge precisely because of the quantity and quality of their advanced electronic systems.  Starting late in the decade the United Kingdom is expected to begin purchasing some 9,800 FIST systems.

Forecast International Inc. is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analyses in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics.  Based in Newtown, CT, USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and innovative marketing presentations, including regular 10-year forecasts.  To arrange an interview with Forecast International's analysts, please contact Monty Nebinger (203-426-0800, monty.nebinger@forecast1.com).