UAV News – Flying robots, drones and telepresent warfare
I receive several daily newsletters from Simon Mansfield – my favorite messenger from Oz. They run the gamut from Earth science, space science, science and economics in China – to the occasional special edition like this one dedicated to robot warfare in the air.
The UAV market has seen unprecedented growth since 2001, with its current projected value over the next 10 years estimated at $17.9 billion.
“An insatiable demand for unmanned air vehicles is fueling massive growth within this market,” said Larry Dickerson, senior unmanned systems analyst for Forecast International. “No matter how many UAVs are built, military agencies want more.”
Dickerson notes that a few years ago, UAV contracts in the millions of dollars were big news; now these awards are in the billions. “In addition to procurement, research funding for unmanned air vehicles could exceed $20 billion through 2018,” he added.
The $17.9 billion market for UAV reconnaissance systems includes all air vehicles, ground control equipment, and payloads likely to be produced between 2009 and 2018. The United States is the driving force behind this market, and U.S.-based companies will account for more than 60 percent of the market’s value. Still, demand for UAVs is growing elsewhere.
Europe is the second largest market for UAVs, with France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom working to expand their UAV fleets. However, a shortage of funding is hindering some research and procurement programs.
In Asia, new UAVs – some from local sources – are being acquired by Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Purchases are not restricted to major powers and those facing conventional warfare threats.
This is the lead article of over two dozen. Fascinating stuff – although equally scary, since many of these military platforms – especially the smallest – are adaptable for use by police and old fashioned government snoops.
Not impressed. After all, Osama and Omar remain at large. The Taliban gained strength. And the latter don’t have as advanced technology.
“Where does he get those wonderful toys?” – Joker (J.Nicholson), Batman 1989
“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” – Mao tse Tung
gordeecampbell
November 2, 2009 at 7:52 am
Osama and Omar and the Taliban had 6 years of being untouched.
You don’t win 4th generation warfare with hardware; but, you can relegate your opponents to a pretty low-level of politics and participation in society.
moss
November 2, 2009 at 9:00 am
It may come as a surprise to most Americans but Coalition forces have been killing lots of Taliban for the past six years – and a lot of Coalition troopers have been dying in the conflict.
I wouldn’t call that ‘untouched’ for either side.
The trouble is, just like Nam, you kill one and two more take his/her place to help defend their country.
Cinaedh
November 2, 2009 at 5:42 pm
And just like Vietnam, a big chunk of the fighters are from other countries.
Jägermeister
November 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Pardon me?
What “big chunk of the fighters” came from what other countries to fight in Viet Nam?
I know it’ll never happen in Imaginationland but it would be nice if one day, the U.S. and all of their allies came to accept they were defeated first and foremost by U.S. politicians and second by the Vietnamese people, whether they happened to live in the North or in the South.
Cinaedh
November 3, 2009 at 7:03 am
Oh, so the Chinese didn’t have troops in Vietnam? Silly me.
Jägermeister
November 3, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Your hangups do get to be a chuckle.
Yup, there were Chinese troops for a couple years – stationed in the North mostly to defend airfields – and there were tales of Chinese pilots never proven.
Fewer than the number of Australians serving at the behest of good old LBJ.
keaneo
November 3, 2009 at 3:09 pm
“Fewer than the number of Australians serving at the behest of good old LBJ.”
Is that right?
Jägermeister
November 3, 2009 at 4:36 pm
There’s a good reason why old wiki-wiki needs citations. The Pentagon and their fave right-wing contractors say confirmed max on the Chinese was ab’t 50,000.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/vietnam2.htm
There are estimates higher – but, not from sources trusted by the Pentagon.
keaneo
November 3, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Did you even read it? It said
Which didn’t contradict Wikipedia. And at the end of the day, there still were way more Chinese than Aussies.
Jägermeister
November 3, 2009 at 6:10 pm
That’s exactly why I quoted it. “May have” is the same as “what if”. It’s good enough for you; but, not a military commander worth his salt.
Again – you’re never gonna get it. Someone in Peoria could hybridize a new apple; but, if he sells it to China – you’ll get warped.
I was busy supporting national liberation and anti-colonial movements around the world back then. I didn’t give a shit if it was the Chinese, Russians or Oglala Sioux providing SAMs to the Vietnamese. In retrospect, I still don’t. Uncle Sugar was pushed out the same door as the French.
The important bit was kicking colonial butt out of the country. You don’t even begin to solve all the truly out-of-date problems from corruption to religion until you can run your own damned country.
keaneo
November 3, 2009 at 6:23 pm
You can twist your arguments as much as you wish, but your BS about Australia having more troops in Vietnam still was just that… BS.
“You don’t even begin to solve all the truly out-of-date problems from corruption to religion until you can run your own damned country.”
I guess that’s why China is free from corruption. They’ve had 60 years to fix the problem.
Jägermeister
November 3, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Avoiding recognition of your obsession isn’t an answer either.
What counts for me was which side deserved support. I supported the anti-colonial war against the French – and against the US.
I supported the VietNamese in their border conflict against China because I felt that history’s record was on their side.
I hold no brief for political decisions based on nationality or even culture. How could I? I still live in a nation that only removed most legal support for racist laws within the past half-century and still is saddled with many of those practices.
Living here, conscious of that history, I have a responsibility to fight against that racism. I also don’t delude myself into thinking 50 or 60 years is sufficient to overcome cultural crap with a much longer history.
keaneo
November 3, 2009 at 7:13 pm
“Avoiding recognition of your obsession isn’t an answer either.”
So, I don’t have the right to question the Chinese commies? What’s so wrong with it? Are they pals of yours?
“What counts for me was which side deserved support.”
So, which organizations do you support today? Al-Qaeda?
“I also don’t delude myself into thinking 50 or 60 years is sufficient to overcome cultural crap with a much longer history.”
Three generations isn’t long enough? What if they had concentrated on corruption instead of murdering their own population?
Jägermeister
November 3, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Don’t forget our dear commie friends…
Jägermeister
November 2, 2009 at 5:16 pm
And Boeing’s buddies in Israel.
moss
November 2, 2009 at 7:27 pm
And then Israel sells the knowhow to China.
Jägermeister
November 2, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Kool hardware. Boring OT discussion.
minerva
November 3, 2009 at 10:21 pm