The Pennsylvania National Guard recently reported how the three-point intersection that includes artificial intelligence, unmanned aircraft and new weaponry is dramatically altering military operations.Â
An article on the National Guard website explains how some personnel must use a range finder, GPS, compass, map and protractor to determine their position and a target’s position by grid coordinates. They also describe the target, the artillery required to neutralize it and communicate that information to a fire direction center.
In a demonstration at Fort Indiantown Gap, an infantry unit, battalion and field artillery regiment collaborated with Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute to showcase Project Strike. The project reduces the complex task of calling for fire within seconds. The AI-enabled systems developed by the engineering team and the U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Center enable artillery units to detect, target and engage threats with enhanced speed and precision.Â
The National Guard exhibition is another example of how unmanned aircraft is a booming business, and not just for the aerospace and defense industry.Â
Businesses such as Amazon and Walmart are exploring drone delivery services for faster and more efficient delivery of goods to customers, especially in urban areas. They are also incorporating them into warehouses and distribution centers. Last year, private drone operators helped deliver aid to residents in North Carolina by bringing life-saving supplies to isolated communities after roads were destroyed in the wake of Hurricane Helene.Â
While drones have been around for nearly a century – the first modern drone was introduced in 1935 – their use has exploded in the past decade. In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration estimated that 1.6 million drones would be sold. Statistics now indicate the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market will reach $41.26 billion in 2025 and rise to $125.91 billion by 2032.
The Global Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) Market is also poised for significant growth. Statistics indicate the UCAV market reached $11.8 million in 2023 and will expand by nearly 10 percent by 2034. Increasing demands for autonomous warfare systems with advanced precision and surveillance capabilities reduce human risk in combat. Improvements in stealth, speed and payload technologies have made UCAVs important for modern military regimes.Â
Operations such as border surveillance and ensuring maritime security have also contributed to increased demand.Â
Rising utilization of unmanned aircraft has been supported by Alpha Metalcraft Group, which uses its capabilities in electroforming, deep drawing, and spinning to provide components and assemblies for the aircraft.
AMG’s products for turbine engines include ducting components, combustor liner assemblies, exhaust nozzle assemblies, outer cases and guide vane abrasion guards. Nozzle assemblies accelerate the gas to generate propulsive force and are essential components for unmanned vehicles used in the defense industry.
A central advantage of AMG’s components for unmanned vehicles is the elimination of the need for welding. The deep drawing and spinning processes do not involve welding and help aerospace and defense industries meet rigid testing processes for components and assemblies.
AMG also manufactures components for the surging eVTOL (electrical vertical takeoff and landing) market, making it an indispensable partner for manufacturers of aerospace and defense aircraft of all shapes and sizes.