Market and Technology Trends Influencing the Aerospace & Defense and Robotics & UAV Industry

The global aerospace & defense and robotics & UAV industries are undergoing colossal changes, which are propelled by several macro-level trends. In addition, factors such as technological disruptions, increasing pricing pressures, and consolidation of information are encouraging the stakeholders across the industry to acclimate to the changing industry scenario rapidly and seek new opportunities to stay ahead of the competition.

Following are the trends influencing the aerospace and defense market, as well as the robotics and the UAV market.  

Trends Influencing the Space Industry

• Maximum investors are from the U.S. as compared to other countries: In the space sector, investors are primarily based in the U.S., which is home to about two-thirds of the 400 plus worldwide investors. Of the non-U.S. investors, 19% are in Japan, followed by the U.K. (15%), Israel (15%), Canada (14%), Spain (12%), India (10%), and China (9%).
• The military and defense sector is using the space for various activities: Nowadays, space has increased use for military applications. Today, space is used for several applications in the military, namely, navigation, space reconnaissance, control of own or foreign missiles, communication purposes, early warning, and more.
• The use of lighter gases is increasing for space launchers: The use of liquid oxygen and methane as propellants is expected to lead to significant gains such as simpler and lighter launcher design, reusable-friendly engines, and easier storage and handling. The U.S., Europe, and Japan are known to be currently developing methane engines.
• Highly advanced networks provide better connectivity: Advanced networking provides a range of connectivity that leads to the development of new products and services. From edge computing to 5G to low Earth orbit satellites, companies are rethinking for advanced connectivity options to design networks of the future.
• The demand for miniaturization of satellites is growing steadily: Miniaturization trends extend to satellites across all orbits, providing new connectivity methods for areas not served by fiber or 5G. Advanced global connectivity can extend AI, image/facial recognition, and other tools into the field.

Trends Influencing the Military and Defense Industry

• A significant increase in the investment in the development of diesel-electric submarines has been witnessed: The defense firms are investing in the development of new generation diesel-electric submarines with high endurance capability. The technology, such as fuel cell is expected to enable these submarines to generate power without surfacing to charge their batteries. The organizations such as TKMS, Naval group, and DRDO, are developing new generation air-independent propulsion (AIP) technologies for the purpose.
• New technologies are required for connected devices posing as a threat: Increasing connectivity of devices is posing as a threat, considering that cyber threats involves ways to exploit the weakness in a network to breach it. This exposes the data in the network system to attacks and compromises its integrity. This is a major concern for the defense industry as these leaks in the system can act as a potential threat to national security.
• Autonomous decision-making system to overcome existing drawbacks of the system: AI-powered insights are expected to enable autonomous decision-making across various platforms such as land, air, naval, and space. They are expected to overcome most of the existing drawbacks of all the equipment and further generating growth opportunities for the technology market.
• The growing use of IoT for information gathering: In the defense industry, everything depends on strategy, and effective strategy cannot be developed without the availability of the information. The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology leverages the strategy makers by equipping them with information and enable them in making informed choices.
• Development of sophisticated equipment with 3D Printing technology and industrial 4.0 revolution: The 3D printing technology offers potential benefits to defense organizations by providing them with high-quality equipment. The companies around the world are focusing on disruptive technologies and 4.0 industrial revolution technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to develop equipment that helps in improving the level of surveillance.

Trends Influencing the Robotics and UAV Industry

• Urban air mobility to curb traffic congestion in future: Urban air mobility is projected to reduce the level of traffic congestion and curb the increasing level of transportation costs by deploying unmanned aerial vehicles along with air taxis to improve commuting. The urban air mobility also offers a widespread network of vertiports along with bigger transportation hubs while keeping the existing infrastructure intact.
• Improved supply chain with high payload UAVs: It is expected that with the development of UAVs with high-payload cargo facility can improve the prevalent supply chains, reduce the number of physical warehouses, and distribution centers. This, in turn, can lower the time and cost involved in the transportation of goods.