...across nations in spite of budgetary pressures and will be epitomized by continued use of both traditional and non-traditional ISR (NTISR) assets. The Strategy Analytics Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report, “Defense Budgets, Multiple Platforms and Battlespace Collaboration to Drive Future Airborne ISR,” predicts the use of common ISR assets across nations as a common practice to take advantage of future technologies and platforms. The effective use of ISR capabilities will be increasingly important drivers in achieving battlespace collaboration as future conflicts transition toward net-centricity and coalition-based operations. Traditional ISR assets include US JSTARS (Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System) and U.K. Sentinel platforms. NTISR platforms include fast-jets such as the Saab Gripen and Boeing F/A-18.
“Pod solutions from companies such as ELTA Systems and Northrop Grumman allow non-traditional platforms, like fast-jets, to perform ISR missions,” noted Eric Higham, ADS Service Director North America. “However, offloading and analyzing the data in a timely and actionable fashion will remain a bottleneck. This is where traditional ISR assets will continue to play a key role.”
“UAV platforms, like the Predator and Global Hawk, will continue to increase their penetration of the ISR environment, although extension into civilian law enforcement activities will require careful integration of these platforms into civilian airspace,” noted Asif Anwar, Director of the ADS service. “A strong market also remains for companies such as Hawker Beechcraft, for manned ISR platforms.”