Mary-Louise Hoffman
The International Institute for Strategic Studies says reducing acquisition costs will increase demand for unmanned aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications, Agence France-Presse reported Tuesday.
IISS published its “Military Balance 2014” report stating that globally, more drones are being used by militaries, private companies and individuals.
“We’re going to see more of these things,” Doug Barrie, an aerospace market analyst with IISS, told the publication.
“They will proliferate from the kind of system you can stick in your backpack up to full-blown combat strike,” he added.
The U.S. remains the world’s highest military spender, with a defense budget of $600.4 billion last year, the report added.
China spent the second most with $112 billion followed by Russia with $68 billion and Saudi Arabia with $60 billion.
