Counter Unmanned Aerial System

Introduction

The global Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) market is exponentially growing each year, particularly given the rising demand in the industry’s products application. An industry analysis shows that there has been a substantial increase in the adoption and use of drones for various applications, including cargo inspection, surveillance, photography, disaster management, emergency applications, as well as for gaming and leisure purposes. With the increased deployment of drones, the risk and possibility being utilized for malicious intent is growing by the day. Report by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shows that there are over one million registered drones, a number that is bound to shoot drastically over the next decade. The deployment of these drones pose a substantial threshold of threat to the aerospace industry, privacy, increased terror, data protection, and risk of increased both authorized and unauthorized surveillance, thereby giving way to the need for counter-drone technology and products aimed at countering the threat and as defense mechanism. Industry analysis shows that the sector is dominated by an increasing number of prolific companies that sell a diverse range of products to a wide range of global clients.

Historical sales and global market share

Analysis of the historical sales data in the market reveals a gradually rising trend over the years. In the Middle East, for example, in 2018, $74.5 million worth of Counter-UAS sales went into the defense client base as compared to $18.6 million worth of sales in the commercial sector (BIS Research, 2019). In 2019, the figures gradually rose to $82.6 million in the defense sector and $25.4 million in the commercial sector (BIS Research, 2019). Over the next decade, projections show that the defense sector is expected to spend more than twice in purchases of Counter-UAS products compared to the commercial sector. By the year 2029, however, projections indicate that the commercial sector will consume over $531 million worth of counter UAV products and solutions as compared to the military’s $375 million (BIS Research, 2019). Whereas this is a typical case study of the Middle Eastern C-UAS market, different markets, including Asia and North America, have similar trends of rising expenditures in consumption of C-UAS products over the next 10 years (BIS Research, 2019).

In terms of market share by region, North America is the largest consumer of the global C-UAV products, accounting for 45.78% of all sales and purchases. It is closely followed by Europe, which consumes approximately 30% of the global sales, and Asia-Pacific that accounting for 15% (BIS Research, 2019). Industry analysis shows that North America will retain its top position in terms of the global market share while other segments, such as the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, will generally increase and perhaps overtake Europe between 2020 and 2030.

Key industry players

The global counter UAS market, in 2018, experienced a compound annual growth rate of 24%, giving way to 2019’s CAGR of around 24.5% (BIS Research, 2019). This year’s projections indicate that the industry will grow by slightly over 25%, a number expected to increase to 28% over the next four years. The lucrative returns in this industry have attracted a wide range of global companies that have invested in different C-UAS technologies and products. According to the latest Global C-UAS report, the leading industry players in this sector include the Thales Group, Raytheon, Airbus Defense and Space, Blighter Surveillance Systems, BATTELLE, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Saab AB, and The Boeing Company (BIS Research, 2019). The expansive and competitive industry implies that each of these industry players serves a given market and a specific client base.

Major clients of Counter UAS

As explained above, the rising market of global C-UAS market has drawn the attention of more clients across the globe. Among the leading clients of the Counter-UAS solutions available in the market today include defense departments in developed countries (the US, UK, Australia, Germany, China, and Israel. In the US, the Department of Defense is one of the leading clients of C-UAS products. The various Special Forces under the Department of Defense, for instance, target spending up to $404 million in the research and development of custom Counter-UAS solutions (Congressional Research Service, 2020). Much of these funds go into funding partnerships with the Department of Defense in this industry. The department also anticipates spending at least $83 million in the procurement of ready-made Counter-UAS products. This marks the first time that the Department of Defense is spending such a huge amount on deployable C-UAS weapons.

The European Commission has also set aside budget targeting investing in Counter-UAS systems for security purposes. With a substantial number of the available Counter-UAS solutions customizable to specific clients’ needs, the EU has set aside a large percentage of its expenditure in this sector towards research and development for region-specific products. The EU funding schemes have already committed 44 million Euros worth of grants in the research and development of specific defense systems against drones and other dangerous aerial vehicles (Lațici, 2019). This is in addition to the 200 million euros already commissioned into the purchase of existing drone airspace defense systems. Italy is a leading partner in the European Counter-UAS products and has developed advanced and efficient mini- and micro-unmanned aerial systems, which are already operational.

Another major client of the Counter-UAS products is major airports particularly in across Europe, the US, some Middle East countries, and Australia in first world countries. Although the FAA has not committed a specific figure of the expenses on Counter-UAS products at the national level, it has laid out strategies targeting acquiring air traffic managing systems in major airports. In 2016, for example, the authority authorized the expenditure of an undisclosed amount of money in assessing risks around major airports in the country associated with unmanned aerial systems. The FAA is responsible for coordinating the US counter-unmanned aerial vehicle activities and developing designated strategies on how to acquire the required products for security purposes (Michel, 2018). In other countries, particularly the EU countries with large airports such the UK and Germany, Counter-UAS products have become significantly useful in helping to secure airports against infiltration, protecting airplanes accidents, tackling the surveillance threat, and anti-terror measures, which might cause a security threat to the airports and endangering flight safety.Additionally, border patrol and security agencies that include prison department and anti-narcotics agencies have increasingly acquired C-UAS. The use of remotely-controlled drones in smuggling drugs is rapidly gaining pace in North and Latin America where border control is a major issue particularly war on drugs. In the US, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has increasingly allocated money in their budget on acquiring border control and traffic regulation technologies. These C-UAS are crucial in helping relevant authorities in combating the drugs smuggling problem, defense against unmanned aerial vehicles, and monitoring of illegal traffic.

Additionally, border patrol and security agencies that include prison department and anti-narcotics agencies have increasingly acquired C-UAS. The use of remotely-controlled drones in smuggling drugs is rapidly gaining pace in North and Latin America where border control is a major issue particularly war on drugs. In the US, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has increasingly allocated money in their budget on acquiring border control and traffic regulation technologies. These C-UAS are crucial in helping relevant authorities in combating the drugs smuggling problem, defense against unmanned aerial vehicles, and monitoring of illegal traffic.

In general, therefore, the Counter-UAS market, in terms of market share, can be classified into two different categories, including defense and commercial. Each designated client has specific needs in terms of the kind of Counter-UAS products. With the growing demand for these products, the global market in this industry is expected to grow measured by market share and product sales. As the customer base grows, it is also expected that the Counter-UAS technology will get fine-tuned towards the detection, identification, and tracking of unmanned aerial threats.

Major Counter-UAS products

The expanding Counter-UAS market across the globe is attracting an expanding range of solutions or products. An industry and market analysis reveal that majority of the products sold in the market today fall in either of two categories, including detection or tracking systems and interdiction systems (BIS Research, 2019).

Detection and tracking systems include C-UAS devices designed to sense, detect, and track small unmanned aircraft, based on their signature flight and design profiles. These systems or solutions are based on various detection technologies, such as radar, where small unmanned aircraft are tracked based on their radar signature. The detection and tracking systems can also utilize radio-frequency identification algorithms to geo-locate radio-frequency-emitting devices in a designated area. Some of the modernized detection and tracking systems also utilize acoustic technologies where the Counter-UAS systems monitor and track the unique sound patterns produced by drone motors. Other detection and tracking technologies include infrared systems that track drones based on their heat signatures and electro-optical systems that track drones based on their visual signature. For extended accuracy, however, developers of C-UAS systems employ combined sensor technologies for more robust detection capabilities (Michel, 2018).

Interdiction Counter-UAS systems

The interdiction C-UAS systems are those devices or products that are designed to interrupt the flight patterns and paths of unmanned aerial systems. Products in this category vary based on the interdiction technology employed to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle being tracked. In most cases, C-UAS systems come equipped with both the detection or tracking systems and interdiction systems, although a few are differentiated. Among the common interdiction technologies include radio-frequency jamming, which involves the disruption of the radio frequency link between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the operator. This results in the loss of control and communication with the drone (Michel, 2018).

Another common technology employed in C-UAS interdiction is the GNSS jamming concept. The Global Navigation Satellite System jamming involves the destruction of the drone’s satellite link that is crucial for navigation. This technology is employed in C-UAS solutions and products targeted for destroying the flight patterns of drones that are programmable to fly to a designated coordinate and back home. Other C-UAS products in the interdiction category use technologies, such as lasers, which destroy the drones’ onboard microchips. The last category involves products that use projectiles, such as custom-designed ammunition and special nets, to disable the flight capability of unmanned aerial drones (Michel, 2018). The majority of the available interdiction Counter-UAS products, however, use combined interdiction technologies for enhanced efficiency.

Analysis of the units sold in the market today shows that the products fall in either of three categories, including ground-based, handheld, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-based solutions. Ground-based systems are designed to be deployed on a mobile or a stationary position on the ground. This involves radar-tracking systems and laser-deploying platforms designed for detection, tracking, and interdiction of unmanned aerial vehicles. These ground-based systems are highly preferred in installations, such as airports and military bases (Michel, 2018). The handheld units sold in the market include those designated to be operated by a single individual since they are portable and weight friendly. These devices are commonly used by military and border patrol clients as they are great with portability. The last category of C-UAS units sold in the market today is the unmanned aerial vehicle-based systems, which involve launching drones to survey, monitor, track, and counter unmanned aerial vehicles. The UAV-based Counter-UAS systems are often used in instances where great mobility involving tracking of unmanned aerial vehicles is necessary (Michel, 2018).

Commercial versus military markets

The global demand for C-UAS systems can be broadly categorized into commercial and military markets. The rapid proliferation of small unmanned aerial systems across different countries has led to a substantial increase in the demand for the Counter-UAS systems meant for detection and defense. According to the Global Counter-UAS Market Forecasts, the heightened demand for commercial UAS products is generally in line with the need to self-protect, especially in large crowded areas, such as airports, sports arenas and even private properties. In addition, industry analysis shows that the prices for commercially targeted C-UAS solutions are generally on the downward trend as orchestrated by the increased market players and the wide range of options available (BIS Research, 2019).

The demand for military C-UAS solutions, on the other hand, has not as extensively shot up as the commercial solutions. This is particularly because military as customers prefer working with individual manufacturers to ensure the provision of highly specific products with an extended range of usability. The military C-UAS is, therefore, generally more expensive as compared to the commercial ones. Intensive regulation within the industry implies that military-intended C-UAS products cannot find their way into civilian or commercial applications. This is primarily because the sale of these products in the market is extensively regulated and monitored to ensure that the technology does not fall in and wanted hands.

The Australian Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Market

Australia, just like a host of other countries, is adversely affected by the increased unregulated utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. In perspective, for example, reports indicate that there are over 1 million drones in operation in the country's airspace. Out of this number, only 1,106 persons are certified to be qualified drone operators (Australia Civil Aviation Authority, 2019). The extensive drone utilization in the country's airspace has prompted various the responses, including legislations targeting regulating the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition to the legislative effort, the country has also invested heavily, through the various respective departments, in the acquisition of C-UAS (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, 2015).

Australia works in coordination with the United States in the bid to boost its drone defensive capabilities, particularly on a research and development perspective. The Australian Defense Forces (ADF) is tasked with the responsibility of coordinating all the counter unmanned aerial vehicle initiatives on the Australian airspace. The ADF estimates that the C-UAS market in Australia is worth an estimate of $7 billion and is still growing in terms of demand, research, and development (Wroe, 2018). The defense forces have developed a defense capability plan, which coordinates the acquisition and deployment of various C-UAS systems for defense purposes.

Among the various C-UAS systems deployed in this regard include unmanned ground vehicles, which utilize various drone detection, surveillance, tracking, and targeting technologies for increased efficiency. The unmanned ground vehicles can either work independently or in coordination with other surface and aerial vehicles. Also, a large portion of the Australian C-UAS weaponry is comprised of unmanned aerial vehicles that the ADF, working with various Australian C-UAS manufacturers, has greatly customized for the Australian market requirements.

The expansive C-UAS market in Australia is served by various local C-UAV manufactures. Among the most prominent of these companies include Cerbair, which focuses on radio-frequency-operated C-UAV systems. Additional companies include DroneShield, Counter Drone Solutions, Drone Catcher, and Lockheed Martin Athena, among others (BIS Research, 2019). In terms of industry and market projections, the Australian C-UAS market is expected to expand rapidly in the coming two years, even as the government targets tightening the noose on illegal drone flights in the country' airspace.

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References

Australia Civil Aviation Authority (2019) Drone Fast Facts: Drones in Australia, Consultation.casa.gov.au. Available at:

BIS Research, 2019. Global Counter-UAS (Anti-Drone) Market: Focus On Technology (Electronic System, Kinetic System, Laser System), Application (Detection And Interdiction),

Congressional Research Service, 2020. Department Of Defense Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In Focus. [online] Washington, DC: US Congress. Available at:

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (2015) Use of unmanned air, maritime and land platforms by the Australian Defense Force. Canberra: Senate Printing Unit. Available at:

Lațici, T., 2019. Civil And Military Drones Navigating A Disruptive And Dynamic Technological Ecosystem. [online] Europarl.europa.eu. Available at:

Wroe, D. (2018) Australia to spend nearly $7 billion buying unmanned military planes from America, The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: