[019] ~ Location

The following is our analysis for the best locations for all business activities such as research, development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and services.
Read also our research about Key People, Competitors and UAVs in different countries.

UNITED STATES

CALIFORNIA:
California is the number one location in United States for this kind of business.
It has infrastructure, people, resources, activities, military bases etc and the California business spirit.
It is the hot spot of UAVs, sensors, Ad Hoc sensor networks, IT, science & research, H2 & fuel cell projects ...
Global companies also have some kind of branch office,satellite hub or research center in California.

Military bases and stations in California:

California and BRAC
~ The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce estimates that defense spending accounts for $18 billion in the county,
~ 13 percent of the total economy. One out of every 10 county residents is affiliated with the military, the chamber reports.
~ There are 11 Navy and Marine Corps centers in the county the commission will consider:

the Navy's San Diego naval station,

North Island air station,

Imperial Beach landing field,

Coronado amphibious base,

Point Loma base and

Fallbrook weapons station detachment;

the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton,

Miramar air station and Recruit Depot San Diego;

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, also called SPAWAR; and

the Naval Medical Center.
~ San Diego Chamber of Commerce
~ San Diego County is home to one of the largest military complexes in the world,
~ with more than 80 separate facilities.
~ Approximately one-fifth of the entire U.S. Navy and Marine Corps fleet are stationed within the County.
San Diego area bases
~ the department of Navy operates 12 military bases and activities in San Diego county
~ the operational bases have high value of their own AND
~ collectively as network of military resource
~ Naval Station San Diego: pacific Fleet largest concentration of cruisers,destroyes,frigates,amphipious ships,
~ it's air field support Pasific Fleet helicopter squadrons
~ and sea control jet aircraft squadrons
~ and maritime patrol aircraft
~ It is a major training base whose jets and helicopters whose jets and helicopters also use nearby offshore training ranges
~ and also train at Imperial Beach
~ Navy Amphipious base Coronado provides training...
~ The formet Naval submarine base in San Diego, now part of Naval base Point Loma has three
~ nuclear powered submarines
~ Marine Corps Camp Pendleton is important to training
~ MIRAMAR is home for fighter and attack jet aircraft and helicopters
~ Aviators train ON COAST and ON DESSERT in California and Arizona
~ Miramar is centrally located to offer training for fixed wing and ROTARY aircraft
~ SAN DIEGO HAS HIGH STAKES TO KEEP BASES
~ (1) to prove that bases have high military value NOW and to foreseeable future
~ (2) together with other compirise of NETWORK of readiness and and training resources
~ Comission deadline September 8,2005
~ President has 15 days until september 23,2005 to approve
~ Congress has 45 days,President may disapprove,October 25,2005 commission,November 15,2005 plan announced
~ Navy Base el Coronado
~ history
~ Kitty Hawk
~ only forward deployable carrier operating from Japan!
~ Helicopter photos/El Coronado
~ Helicopter above El Coronado bridge
~ Helicopter links
~ Arabian Gulf region

Company may have sites in several states, as an example see: Aurora Flight Scienses
~ Bridgeport, West Virginia
~ Manassas, Virginia
~ Starkville, Mississippi
Read alsoBase Realignment and Closure 2002 (BRAC)

NEVADA:

Nevada is the number two location in United States for this kind of business.
It has been and will be the hot spot for UAVs. Legistlation makes it easier to test UAVs in Nevada air space.
Nevada has space for military bases and test sites. It is located near to California, Los Angeles and military bases in Southern California.
Read Joint UAV Center of Excellence at Creech,Nevada and UAV projects in California and Nevada

VIRGINIA:

Virginia is the number three location in United States for this kind of business.
It is located in the east coast. The world's largest navy base is there.
It is near Washington and New York and not too far from Europe and the Middle East.

EUROPE
In Europe the hot spots for this kind of business are:

UK due to close ties with United States and research resources

Scandinavia due to technology such as wireless, oil& gas and sensors

Germany due to technology and research in areas such as UAVs and sensors

New EU countries such as Poland and Hungary due to their scientists and labour cost

Scotland
~Thermal control systems for UAVS
~RTF Systems

Wales
~Wales has begun on a £21 million investment aimed at establishing a "centre of excellence"
~The centre will be established at Parc-Aberporth - a 50-acre high-technology park in Ceredigion
~The 50-acre site is based on the land of a former RAF camp, whose runway is now part of the privately-owned West Wales Airport.

Norway

SiMiCon

DOE analysis

Statoil

Norsk Hydro

HyNor – The Hydrogen Road of Norway

UAV Test Center !

UAV defence project
When the UAV project group visited Kosovo, however, project found that the Norwegian army has already developed
significant knowledge on the use of UAVs:
~The intelligence company of the Norwegian Task Force (Nor TF) in Kosovo has been using both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles
~while planning and executing operations.
~Major Jørn Erik Berntsen of Nor TF said the value of using UAVs for intelligence gathering was significant.
~If we had our own UAVs we would probably have used them in connection with almost all of our operations, he said.
~Norwegian UAV capability
~Since the Norwegians in Kosovo do not have UAVs of their own,
~they have been limited to using other aerial vehicles, among others P-3 Orions.
~If we had UAVs we would be in a position to decide when they were to be put to use,
~without having to rely on others to be in a position to lend them to us.
~Likewise, with UAVs, we would not have to worry about loosing the crew of a manned aircraft
~in case something should go wrong, said Berntsen.
~Norwegian Minister of Defence, Kristin Krohn Devold,
~has wished for a Norwegian UAV capability to be available for 2005 winter exercises in Northern Norway.
~The UAV project group feels that such a request is feasible,
~particularly since the army has already built up the routines surrounding the use of such craft.

UAV & NATO exercixe in Norway

Sweden

~Sweden to expand UAV capability
~Sweden's ministry of defence this year plans to launch development of
~a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle to be operational by 2012.
~The system will be used to co-ordinate and cue tactical UAVs and
~Sweden's future unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV),
~which is expected to support reactive ground strike missions from 2014.
~Saab Aerosystems is discussing potential co-operation on the MALE requirement with EADS and Israel Aircraft Industries,
~ having identified their developmental Eagle 2 UAV as a potential solution to Sweden's military requirements.
~Sweden's UAV roadmap also details plans to field a first-generation short-range mini-UAV for over-the-hill operations from 2006.
~Work to develop a replacement for the Swedish armed forces' Sagem-built Ugglan (Sperwer) tactical UAV
~is due to start in 2007, with a further derivative of the design expected to provide a second-generation mini-UAV by 2012.
~A hand-launched micro-UAV is also being studied to support urban operations.
~Sweden's involvement in a long-term UCAV demonstrator project with France
~aims to see Saab develop the air vehicle's flight control, autonomous operation and navigation systems, the company says.
~France's Dassault Aviation is prime contractor for the effort,
~which is 50%-funded by France's DGA procurement agency and
~25% by Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration.
~A contract signature to launch the project is planned for the third quarter of this year,
~with the system to make its flight debut in 2008-9.
~The Greek government and Hellenic Aerospace Industries recently signed memoranda of understanding
~to join the European UCAV effort,
~which will deliver a full-scale low-observable platform in the 3,000-3,500kg (6,600-7,700lb) class with weapons capability.
~Meanwhile, Saab Aerosystems is preparing to expand flight testing of its Sharc UCAV demonstrator
~to cover fully autonomous sorties from August 2004.
~Flown over Sweden's Vidsel test range, the design's previous two test campaigns have centred on its flight envelope
~and aerodynamics, and demonstrated a maximum speed of 170kt (320km/h).
~The company-funded one-eighth-scale demonstrator will then undertake a further campaign in the second quarter of 2005,
~with this to include tests of the platform's see-and-avoid capabilities.
~A final, full-capability demonstration will take place in mid-2006,
~using a larger-scale version of the composite vehicle,
~in which the UCAV is expected to fly a reconnaissance mission in open airspace.
~The Swedish government has also funded a follow-on project covering demonstrations of the Saab-developed Filur stealth air vehicle.
~This will use the same avionics as the Sharc and have a 2.5m (8.2ft) wingspan,
~an overall length of 2.2m and a maximum take-off weight of around 50kg.
~The system will have a maximum speed of 190kt and a flight endurance of around 20min, says Saab.
~The programme will focus on proving low-observable techniques,
~such as the design's masked engine intake and exhaust.
~To start in late 2005, the flight tests will culminate in the Filur air vehicle making a simulated attack on a radar site
~with the aim of avoiding detection.
~Underlining its growing interest in the unmanned vehicle sector,
~Saab also predicts a commercial market for cargo UAV systems.

Finland
~ Air Force
~ Finland orders additional Ranger UAVs
~ The Finnish Ministry of Defense awarded a contract to the Malat division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) (Lod, Israel)
~ for an additional Ranger unmanned-aerial-vehicle (UAV) system.
~ The Ranger UAV system--initially developed by IAI for the Swiss Air Force
~ and now produced jointly with Oerlikon Contraves (Zurich, Switzerland) and
~ Ruag Aerospace Industries (Emmen, Switzerland)--
~ consists of six UAVs, a launcher, a ground-control station, remote-communications terminals,
~ and other ground-support equipment. The primary sensor is the Multi-mission Optronic
~Elesco
~Insta Visual Solutions, Finland in UAV committee of Bristol University
~Insta Visual Solutions
~Robonic
~ Robonic is an independent engineering company focusing on UAV launching systems and ground support.
~Niche is the name of the game for Finnish companies

Denmark
~UAV & Navy pilot
~NATO Training and simulation work group
~UAV research
~UAV design

Netherlands
~Israeli mini-UAV struts its stuff in the Netherlands
~ The Dutch distributor of the new Israeli Bird Eye 500 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV),
~Condor UAV B.V. of Haarlem, announced at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris on June 15,2005
~that the low-cost mini-UAV had flown successful demonstrations in Nuenen, the Netherlands, that day and on the previous day.
~The Bird Eye 500, also known as Spy There (May ISR), is manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries' MALAT Division.
~The missions it performed included detection and tracking of vehicles and individuals,
~fire detection, traffic control and urban and farm site monitoring.
~The Bird Eye 500's gimballed video camera, which weighs just under two pounds (850 grams)
~provides real-time day/night imagery for military "over-the-hill" reconnaissance and law enforcement.
~The mini-UAV's typical operational area is 10 kilometers by 10 kilometers.
~The Bird Eye 500 is 4.9 feet (1.6 meters) long and has a 6.6-foot (2-meter) wingspan;
~its takeoff weight is 11 pounds (5 kilograms).
~The mini-UAV is launched by hand or using a bungee cord.
~It flies autonomously with "in-flight" way point control for more than an hour at an altitude of 1,000 feet
~and a speed of 22 to 60 knots.
~A complete Bird Eye 500 UAV system includes three of the composite airframes
~and a portable ground station that are stored in backpacks and operated by two personnel.
~IAI/MALAT previously developed and manufactured the Heron, Hunter, Searcher, Ranger and I-View UAV systems.
~European UAV Industry Consultation Body
~The UAV demonstration was for the Amsterdam metropolitan police
~Ex-Fokker & UAV concept study for the Dutch Armed Forces

Belgium
~mostly seems to buy UAVs
Bulgaria
~ American troops are to be moved further east in Europe to be closer to the Middle East
~ US forces have used Sarafovo near Bourgas on the Black Sea during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as an aircraft depot and refuelling base.
~ Bulgaria Newest Member of Missile Technology Control Regime
~ export licensing measures for rockets and UAVs capable of delivering WMD and their related equipment, material and technology

Italy
~ Legislation aimed at opening civil airspace to military UAV flights
~ UAVs are planned to be used in national airspace to monitor “illegal immigration” to Italy’s shores as well as for fighting “international terrorism
~ Italian Navy and Air Force pilots are training in USA to fly 5 Predators purchased from San Diego-based General Atomics for $48 million
~ The first Italian Predators crashed on landing while experiencing wind shear at the Grey Butte test site in California operated by General Atomics
~ The decision on whether Italy or General Atomics would pay for the lost aircraft was pending the findings of an enquiry
~ The Italian Air Force is mulling a manned surveillance platform for situations where they think UAV use is limited.
~ Joint Airborne Multi-Sensor, Electronic Support and C3 (JAMES-C3), involves ISR, airborne electronic attack and C3 capabilities,
~ and requires an aircraft able to get to mission areas 2,000 nautical miles from base faster than a UAV.
~ JAMES avoids problems of flying over countries that did not allow unpiloted flight.
~ A medium size business jet is planned to fit the bill, with the future possibility of using an optionally piloted vehicle.

Russia
~ aeronautics.ru/uavlist

Germany
~KZO UAV
~Rhein Metall-Detec

PERSIAN GULF AREA
Persian Gulf area is the must location for this kind of business.
The worlds largest oil resources are in this area and vast natural gas resources.
Military activity and investments have been and will be high in arab countries.
Countries such as Iraq have been and will be test beds for new military technology such as UAVs and sensors.

Dubai
~ UAE Defence Minister General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum home page
~ DUBAI 2005 TO HAVE UNMANNED SYSTEMS CONFERENCE SPECIALISED UAV PAVILION WINS OFFICIAL INDUSTRY BACKING
~ UAE Ministry of Information and Culture
~ The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces is the sixth international participant in the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program.
~ the UAE pilots will return home to fly the Mirage 2000-9 and the newly acquired F-16 FalconHis
~ Within the seven states of the United Arab Emirates, only Abu Dhabi has a truly combat-capable air force
~ Abu Dabi Ship Building Company
~ Business Bay project in UAE
~ Covering an area of 64 million square feet, the new initiative will provide a conducive environment and infrastructure for businesses from around the world
~ Dubai's Business Bay will be similar in nature to Manhattan or Ginza
~ Gulf News

Afganistan:

Pakistan Tribune/UAV crashed
~ UAV belonged to Canadians; there are 2,000 Canadians working in or around Kabul as part of the ISAF
~ Flight safety inspectors are being flown into Afghanistan from Ottawa to investigate why the unmanned surveillance plane crashed!

U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in eastern Afghanistan
~ mechanical problems are believed to be the cause
~ Coalition forces recovered all parts of the UAV, and it will be destroyed in place

Persian Gulf Region:
Pentagon Expects Long-Term Access to Four Key Bases in Iraq
~ in Burgas, Bulgaria, the authorities opened a training camp and adjacent airfield to 400 Air Force personnel and about six KC-10 refueling planes.
~ 900 Army troops established a training camp for Iraqi exiles at Taszar in Hungary, a new NATO member
~ Qatar to allow Gen. Tommy R. Franks, the allied commander in the region, to establish his wartime headquarters outside of Doha, the capital
~ Bahrain and especially Kuwait, the staging area for the ground invasion, provided essential bases for the Iraq war
~ American military officials spokee of maintaining perhaps four bases in Iraq that could be used in the future:

~ one at the international airport just outside Baghdad;

~ another at Tallil, near Nasiriya in the south;

~ the third at an isolated airstrip called H-1 in the western desert, along the old oil pipeline that runs to Jordan

~ and the last at the Bashur air field in the Kurdish north.

Oil Producers

~ Saudi Arabia remained in the lead in 2004 with a total of 262.8 billion barrels of reserve oil

~ Iran with 125.8 billion

~ Iraq with 115 billion

~ Kuwait with 99 billion

~ the UAE with 97.8 billion
Gas Producers

~ Russia ranked first in 2004 with 47.5 trillion square meters of natural gas reserves

~ Iran with 26.6 trillion

~ Qatar with 25.7 trillion.

~ Kuwait’s natural gas reserves for 2004 reached 1.5 trillion square meters.

Importance of Oil
~ According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
~ the Middle East supplies about 30 per cent of all world consumed oil.
~ By 2020, this could be around 40 per cent and world’ dependence on Opec oil will continue to rise over the time.
~ Western European oil imports are likely to rise from 55 per cent today to 65 per cent by 2010
~ and possibly to 80 per cent by 2020.
~ North American import dependence could rise from about 35 per cent to 45 per cent by 2020.
~ Central and Eastern European country’s imports could rise from 80 per cent to 90 per cent in 2020.
for more see Arab Times

ASIAN
Asian as location is must for this kind of business.
Countries such as China, Japan and South Korea will invest heavily also in future to new technologies such UAVs and sensors.
Australia has extensive knowledge network and research activities with UAVs and it has supported USA's in Iraq.
When it comes to manufacturing Asian has been and will be THE location.
Even military systems, devices and networks will use more and more components made in Asian whether they are software or hardware.

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