WHILE NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE DISRUPTING EVERY VERTICAL MARKET AND EVERY INDUSTRY , WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ON THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY ACROSS THE REGION
EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
WHILE NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE DISRUPTING EVERY VERTICAL MARKET AND EVERY INDUSTRY , WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ON THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY ACROSS THE REGION
Graham Grose who is the Global Industry Director of Aerospace and Defense at IFS outlines the impact and opportunities across the defence industry .
In 2017 I expect performance-based logistics , a strategy that optimises total system availability while minimising costs and logistics footprint , will deliver huge changes and opportunities . Organisations in the region are not just being judged on the delivery of military capability and the efficiency and completion of operations any more , but on cost effectiveness too .
Performance-based logistics bases decisions on the contractor ’ s ability to perform maintenance efficiently and cost-effectively . In the past , OEMs would sell or lease an aircraft to the military which would take control and maintain the asset themselves . With performance-based logistics , there is much more emphasis on working at the asset itself , and software providers are being helped by new opportunities provided by the Internet of Things .
IoT-enabled sensors allow for the recording of data in real-time as the asset is still in use and alert engineers on the ground who can prepare for repair work . These reduce unnecessary maintenance , which in turn cuts the total cost of ownership and prolongs the lifespan of the asset – an important aspect as contracts for modern military assets can last up to 25 years or more .
Drones are flying off the shelves in the consumer market , but potential advantages also exist for defense maintenance operations and here I will specifically just address maintenance type applications as opposed to the proven operational benefits of drone technology .
Easyjet is already doing this in the commercial space , but the same can be applied in the defense sector to reduce the time and costs associated with the maintenance of assets . The UK Royal Navy is using drones to scan Navy vessels for damage . Due to the size and area of naval ships , inspections now take hours rather than days , with fewer people involved and can even be done while at sea .
In the future , we may even see automated maintenance drones than can pick up on faults or damage and do the repairs themselves without the control of an engineer . Trials of autonomous maintenance drones are already happening in the oil and gas industry , so it will not be long until this idea becomes a reality in defense .
3D printing will become a huge disruptor in 2017 . No longer just a buzzword , the military are already looking into the potential of printing spare parts and military equipment in-theater to drive down costs and drive up availability .
The aerospace and defence sector is set to become one of the biggest contributors to 3D printing ’ s global revenues , predicted to reach a mammoth $ 1.4 billion by 2019 , producing parts in-house , a development that will completely reshape the relationship between contractors and manufacturers .
Currently , all branches of defense organisations rely on the commercial industry for spare parts and materials . But it will not be long until the military starts to produce its own . Tier two and three suppliers will need to jump on the 3D bandwagon fast , or risk losing business .
Investment in cyber security is growing , with research forecasting $ 1 trillion will be spent globally on projects in the next five years , driven by an increase in attacks and security concerns . But despite increasing investment , traditional security strategies have struggled to defend against sophisticated cyber-attacks and protect valuable data , made worse by legacy systems and basic security tools .
Look out in 2017 for a new breed of cybersecurity solutions that offer a forwardlooking and holistic approach , with a better view of entire security operations to monitor and react to attacks , and where to focus resources to maximise security while attaining business goals .
The defense industry is in a state of flux . Budgets are shifting due to increased border tensions , the rising threat of cyberattacks and the transformation of supply chains and support . Defense organisations cannot afford to be caught flat-footed .
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