High Altitude Platform Market Analysis

High Altitude Platform Market Analysis

The current trend of solar-powered technologies is a major driver for the UAV market. These systems can provide massive savings in term of fuel costs while reducing the CO2 emissions.
 

Tethered aerostat systems are anticipated to hold the largest high altitude platform market share due to its large number of applications such as surveillance, information gathering, environmental research, disaster management among others. The United Coast Guard and Customs Service faced major issues pertaining to cross border drug trafficking along the Southern borders. To combat this issue, TCOM L.P was awarded a contract for the development of their 71M aerostats that are equipped with advanced radar payloads and can provide persistent long-range surveillance.
 

Surveillance applications dominate the high altitude platform market owing to military and public safety adoption. Airships and UAVs allow the detection and identification of criminals with the aid of advanced aerial imaging and video analytic systems to match facial features of the criminals to the databases. These platforms can carry payloads ranging to above three tons and cover very large areas.
 

The communication segment in high altitude platform market will witness growth due to projects imitated by prominent IT companies such as Google and Facebook. Google has launched various projects such as Skybender and Loon for the provision of internet services to remote and underserved locations displaced across the world. Wireless communication technology is anticipated to exhibit massive growth to a large increase in smartphone and portable device usage, making HAP stations indispensable in the long-term.
 

Improvements in LTA technology has aided the growth of the high altitude platform market for military applications. The capabilities of these systems are not limited to only surveillance purposes. The platforms are capable of carrying massive payloads and used for the transportation of armaments and weaponry. In 2015, China tested a new helium-filled stratospheric airship, Yuanmeng. The system designed and built by Beijing Aerospace Technology Company, is capable of operating for 48 hours continuously.
 

The telecommunication segment of the HAP market is projected to have high growth during the forecast timespan. Companies operating in the medical sector are investing highly in R&D activities for the development of telecommunication and navigation services. HAPs used for telesurgery provide medical aid in locations that do not have direct access to medical practitioners and are highly instrumental in increasing the life expectancy of the rural population and soldiers and military officials situated in remote locations.
 

The U.S. high altitude platform market is anticipated to dominate regional HAP industry, while Asia Pacific is also projected to experience rapid adoption of the technology for telecommunication and commercial purposes. The military in the region is the largest customers of these equipment, aiding in the high adoption of these technologies. At present, government bodies are acquiring systems such as UAVs for testing purposes but have long-term implications as the success in testing could result in the large-scale adoption of these systems. The U.S. government involvement in foreign conflicts is reducing with the effort being concentrated internally and across its neighboring borders. This is contributing to the massive increase in aerospace and defense applications for internal applications such as homeland security and border patrol.
 

The economic boom in the South-East Asian countries is contributing to the high growth of the HAP market. Outsourcing of various business operations requires continuous connection to the internet and other communication facilities. Disruption in connectivity can result in massive financial losses for regional players. Additionally, the consumers in the region are also seeking high speed broadband services and wireless connectivity which at lower rates.