ABSTRACT
Heraclitus of Ephesus, an ancient Greek philosopher, was noted for his observance of the constancy of change in the universe. Nowhere is that constancy more evident than in the high-tech world of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). To proponents of this last term, the usage of “unmanned” in denoting UAS is a liability when attempting to explain publically just what these aircraft do. This chapter focuses on broader and more enduring industry trends as opposed to attempting to make specific predictions in this highly dynamic area. Driven by robust technological advancement, the market for UAS manufacturing and support services that began as a miniscule, barely noticeable segment of the industry, has become, in a relatively short span of time, a major component of the aerospace enterprise. Recent growth has been steady, and predictions point to continued expansion. By all accounts, the worldwide UAS market forecast continues to indicate strong growth for the foreseeable future.
