Press Release
Contact: Larry Dickerson, Unmanned Systems Analyst
Phone: (203) 426-0800
Fax: (203) 426-4262
Web site: www.forecastinternational.com
E-mail: larry.dickerson@forecast1.com
Forecast International, Inc.
22 Commerce Rd. Newtown, CT 06470 USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UAV Market to Top $13 Billion by 2014
NEWTOWN, Conn. [October 21, 2005] ― Five years ago few
would have imagined the U.S. Air Force would enthusiastically announce that it
was expanding the number of Predator unmanned air vehicle (UAV) squadrons from
three to 15. However, according to Forecast International unmanned vehicles analyst
Larry Dickerson, the global war on terrorism has prompted the United States to
pump significant amounts of money into its UAV programs.
The Market for UAV Reconnaissance Systems – including air
vehicles, ground control equipment and payloads – is expected to be worth $13.6
billion through 2014. “Although the popularity of UAVs continues to grow
worldwide, the United States is by far the largest single market,” said
Dickerson. “American firms have a value share of more than 50 percent of this
market and could gain control of a further 5-10 percent over the next decade,”
he added.
The dominance of these American companies can be attributed
in part to the large U.S. requirement and the high cost of certain systems it
is currently acquiring such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV. “The value of Global
Hawk production over the next 10 years could reach $3.5 billion,” Dickerson
said. Northrop Grumman believes that sales of the Global Hawk air vehicles
could exceed 200 units.
Demand for UAVs also has been growing in Europe. Both
France and the United Kingdom are working to expand their UAV fleets. “A
shortage of funding is a big problem for European UAV programs,” Dickerson
said. Both Sweden and Italy could pull their funding from the Neuron UAV
program due to issues that have nothing to do with the merits of the Neuron
proposal.
More than 9,000 UAVs are expected to be purchased over the
next 10 years by countries in every region of the world. Forecast
International does not include funding for RDT&E and operations and
maintenance in its analysis, but as procurement increases, money spent in these
areas is also likely to increase.
”Thanks to their battlefield successes in Iraq and Afghanistan, money is being
lavished on UAV programs as never before,” said Dickerson. “Still, UAVs
receive only a fraction of the amounts spent on fighter aircraft and tactical
missiles,” he said. “Even if current enthusiasm for UAVs in the U.S. and
elsewhere should dissipate, overall funding and interest will remain higher
than it was before September 11, 2001.”
Forecast International, Inc., is a leading provider of
Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power
systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Connecticut, USA,
Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market
assessments utilized by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military
organizations, and governments worldwide. To arrange an interview with
Forecast International’s analysts, please contact Monty Nebinger (203-426-0800,
monty.nebinger@forecast1.com).