The author has produced the only available market research study devoted to Military and Aerospace Fiber Optics in Avionic Systems. The report includes both military and commercial aircraft including fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, UAVs and commercial aircraft. It's estimated that the total fibre optic market for these two markets was at $955 million in 2017, growing to $1.1 billion in 2020. This increase in the total market is due to a number of factors including greater acceptance of this new technology-driven by the rapid acceptance and developments in the telecommunications field.
Other factors include the need to reduce size and weight, the need for higher bandwidth, and the opening of the UAV market. Despite the desire to use more fibre in aircraft, specific military and aerospace requirements present major barriers. These include the unavailability of COTS, lack of hardened components for the military and aerospace environment, available test and maintenance procedures and the availability of low cost, easy to use test and measurement equipment.
Table of Contents
1. History of Fiber Optics in Avionics for Military and Commercial Aircraft2. Advantages of Fiber Optics on Existing Copper Media and Trends in Aircraft Construction3. Current Fiber Optics in Aircraft4. Potential weight savings using fibre optics in aircraft5. Special Characteristics of Aircraft Wiring6. The market for Fiber Optics in Aircraft7. Military and Commercial Systems that Have Fiber Optic Data Links Installed8. Fibre Optics in Commercial Aircraft
