Three pillars support future airborne ISR/AEW-C2BM, says Strategy Analytics

Budgets, the changing operational picture and training will be the three pillars for future airborne ISR as it increasingly converges with AEW/C2BM operations.

That is the conclusion reached in the Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report from Strategy Analytics, entitled Three Pillars for Future Airborne ISR / AEW-C2BM, which examines the factors that will influence future airborne ISR/AEW-C2BM operations and the associated market opportunity for platform manufacturers and the supporting supply chain.

Click here for information about the report.

Strategy Analytics attended the inaugural IQPC Airborne ISR and C2 Battle Management event which took place Feb. 25-27 to explore the increasing convergence in recent years between Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) / Command and Control Battle Management (C2BM) mission sets.

The ultimate goal for airborne ISR and AEW/C2BM is to enable decision superiority and this will continue to be enabled by the confluence of hardware assets and the operators and analysts.

*          Budgets will underpin the makeup of future capabilities and dictate the economics of introducing new platforms versus upgrading capabilities as existing platforms approach critical junctures in their operational lifecycle.

*          In the case of radar systems, demand will come from existing platforms being retrofitted and upgraded, as well as opportunities from new manned and unmanned platforms, driving shipments a CAGR of 5 percent through 2022.

*          The changing face of warfare (conventional versus asymmetric) moving towards hybrid scenarios will be underpinned by joint operations and will require interoperability to allow effective operation in congested and contested environments,” observed Asif Anwar, director of the ADS service. “Ultimately, the emphasis needs to be on information sharing, not collection of data for collections sake.”

“Despite the move towards advanced sensors, automated software capabilities and unmanned platforms, the ‘human-in-the-loop’ remains the most important asset,” noted Eric Higham, North American director for ADS. “The importance of continued and effective training will be essential to ensure that platforms and assets achieve the desired effects.”