Airbus Predicts Growth In UAV Market

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The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market is on a brink of a growth explosion, according to Airbus Defence and Space. The defence manufacturing giant is gearing up to take on this rising sector with innovative technology, like its Zephyr pseudo-satellite.

UAVs represent only a small part of defence spending now, but are likely to see the highest growth in the coming years, said Jean Pierre Talamoni, Head of Sales and Marketing at Airbus Military Aircraft.

Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Airbus Defence and Space Jana Rosenmann predicts that there will likely be huge opportunities in the UAV market, but so far nothing is certain. The trouble is that forecasts vary wildly. The UAV market in 2020 is prognosticated to be worth between $2.8 and $17 billion. Some of these predictions are more reliable than others, but with such huge variance, placing bets is a risk many are unwilling to take. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the commercial drone market will overtake the military in the near future.

Rosenmann herself predicts that the global UAV market will grow to some $18 billion in 2025, and that medium altitude, long endurance UAVs will make up the vast majority of the market.

Rosenmann recently said in a press conference in Germany that Airbus is preparing for “crossing the Rubicon.” The company is moving into the commercial drone market, and has spent considerable resources to engage with it.

One of the company’s forays into the field is the Zephyr pseudo-satellite. Zephyr is a solar powered unmanned aircraft designed to soar and operate in the stratosphere, high above regular air traffic and even the weather. Applications for the Zephyr include surveillance, but also civilian communications and even providing internet access.