Aviationtoday.com: Eyes in the Skies

Heroes typically are made of flesh and blood, but that’s all changing. The world’s militaries, as well as vulnerable civilian airports, are increasingly turning to UAVs and other types of airborne surveillance systems to protect troops and citizenry. It’s one of the hottest aerospace trends unfolding today.

For defense strategists, pilot-less aircraft outfitted with ultra-sophisticated sensors are a vital tactic in fighting the asymmetrical guerilla wars of the 21st century. Notably, the Pentagon’s "UAV Roadmap," which provides airborne surveillance for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, has already incurred more than 100,000 flight hours with few losses.

In the United Kingdom, the Department of Trade and Industry is providing substantial funds to support a national program for the safe operation of surveillance UAVs in civilian airspace, without operational constraints.

In these and other countries, new and innovative airborne devices are supporting police and fire surveillance, coastal patrol, and power and pipeline inspections. These sectors typically have relied on manned aircraft, but no longer.

All of this will be the topic of a Webinar on Aviation Today, "Eyes in the Skies: The High-Flying Demand for Airborne Surveillance," Oct. 4, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. After its initial airing, it will be archived on www.aviationtoday.com and accessible anytime on demand.

Speakers include Michel Merluzeau, principal with the consulting firm, G2 Solutions, and Avionics Editor Bill Carey. I will serve as the moderator.

UAVs are making significant contributions to airport security and on the battlefield. But the intense hoopla over these gee-whiz gadgets also begs the question: Does their promise live up to their hype?

U.S. military services, especially the Army, are emphasizing flexibility, rapid response and mobility to gird for the long twilight struggle against terrorism. As part of its military "transformation," the Pentagon has long called for the development of information-age aircraft capable of more finely honed surveillance. This imperative gathered even more urgency after Sept. 11.

It’s not just the war-fighting establishment that likes UAVs and other forms of pilot-less surveillance. Reformers who are striving to streamline the armed forces also embrace them, because the machines confer cutting-edge capabilities at relatively low cost.

However, because UAVs push the edge of the technology envelope, they’re susceptible to delays and accidents. Some analysts are raising concerns that the UAV concept — although innovative and worthwhile — is being grossly oversold. They argue that UAVs reflect the triumph of technical wants over tactical needs.

Another recurring problem among airborne surveillance programs is the tendency for "requirements creep," which occurs when the services impose more requirements on a UAV or other aircraft until meeting all items on the wish list becomes technically untenable — and quite expensive. Aviation Today’s Webinar will examine these and other provocative questions.

During the Webinar, you’ll also learn which companies stand to benefit most from UAV market growth. Opportunities abound in the avionics sector. Notably, Rockwell Collins was awarded a $300 million contract in June to provide the U.S. Army with receivers for a new global positioning system for UAVs. Raytheon has long led the market for small airborne Forward-looking Infrared systems mounted on helicopters, UAVs, fixed-wing aircraft and low-flying drones. Another major player is Honeywell, which develops systems for multi-UAV coordinated operations, for surveillance and target acquisition and tracking. Honeywell also provides next generation air traffic management systems for the safe operation of UAVs through commercial air space.

Combine new military and homeland security priorities with contemporary society’s squeamishness about casualties, and unmanned airborne surveillance appears to be the perfect solution for pre-empting attacks. History teaches us to remain skeptical of any technology that’s touted as a "silver bullet." But one fact remains: UAVs are always willing to die for their country, regardless of foe.