Article

UAVs and the importance of operational readiness in the defense sector

Jan. 27, 2023 · Authored by Cindy M. Bratel

The Aerospace and defense (A&D) manufacturing industry is complicated. Success and overall safety require software with powerful project management capabilities. With the growth of Advanced Air Mobility (AAVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in defense, there is a need for these military resources to maintain readiness for deployment. What does that mean for the world of technology? All eyes will be on the next generation of software available to manage all areas of the UAV lifecycle, including maintenance.

The use of UAVs is quickly increasing. According to the U.S. Department of Defense , over 11,000 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are currently used for defense sector missions, training purposes and even delivering humanitarian aid. The market for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is extremely lucrative due to opportunities for potential revenue growth.

In order for unmanned systems to continue to grow successfully within the modern defense sector, sustainment, support and maintenance are highlighted areas that fuel the need for updated software. UASs need a software system to fight against potential cyberattacks in order to keep information systems secure. Within the UAVs ecosystem, there is also a need for an end-to-end digital data thread linking stakeholders and data sources. An integral part of the operational management process is the data collection, analysis and then execution. They will rely heavily on the software support to have accurate data and optimized forecasting in order for maintenance tasks to be successfully completed. At times, these maintenance tasks can be unplanned and need to occur anywhere across the globe.

With a new generation of technology, how do successful operational management and tight cybersecurity systems for UASs help the defense sector? Well, the increase of UASs mean the ability to remove more soldiers from danger. From a humanitarian perspective, it means we can increase the amount of aid delivered through missions.

For many years, IFS has been working directly with defense manufacturers involved in all stages of the UAV lifecycle. As a Partner, Baker Tilly works alongside IFS, independently recognized as a leading, global supplier of enterprise software, providing solutions for A&D manufacturing, commercial aviation and performance-based logistics, in order to provide a software solution for the industry. Reach out today to learn more about how IFS and Baker Tilly can help you be ready for current and future operations and your data and analytics needs.