Abstract
Interoperability Continues to Increase in Importance but Remains Elusive
Future U.S. military operations are most likely to be joint or
multiple-service coalition exercises. While the U.S. forces may significantly
differ from their partner forces, the Department of Defense (DoD) needs to
ensure combined interoperability in command, control, communications, computers,
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) for effective operations.
This requires research and development of operational and systems architectures
that incorporate each individual service's needs and allow intercommunication
from the start. For now, various coalition working groups are in the process of
making recommendations and plans to address interoperability issues.
This Frost & Sullivan research service analyzes the U.S. markets for
C4ISR. It provides an analysis of market drivers, restraints, and forecasts,
identifying areas of growth in the command and control, communications,
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance segments. The study also covers
end-user segments including the army, navy, air force, and other departments of
defense.
War on Terrorism Brings Long-term Increase in Equipment Requirements
The recent initiatives to wipe out terrorism will be prolonged and costly. In
addition to human intelligence, unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance
vehicles are expected to provide extensive information for future battlefield
operations. "With C4ISR requirements expected to be high, the demand for
the production of equipment will grow," says the author of the study.
"Funding for this action is expected to be long-term and considerable,
benefiting the entire aerospace and defense market."
Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are excellent examples of how the U.S. war
on terrorism is proving to be a protracted affair. These and other potential
flashpoints around the globe will require continuous funding, development, and
fielding of C4ISR systems.
The Increasing Cost of Platform Development and Production
The increasing cost of C4ISR platform development is lowering the number of
platforms being produced and, in turn, reducing the overall revenue from C4ISR
systems. The costs of research, development, test and evaluation, production,
and procurement are also increasing. Coupled with the restraint in defense
spending, these factors are limiting the funding available for fielding of
upgrades or new systems.
"Considering that battle space commanders will continue to need an
intelligence advantage in operational environments, this increasing cost of
development and production could limit that required advantage and negatively
affect the success of future operations," says the analyst.
View Cart
