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Promise in the Skies Unmanned aerial systems are a hot topic right now at OSU and throughout the state. Dave Wagie, the director of aerospace and defense economic development at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, sheds light on why this burgeoning industry should have a home in Oklahoma. About two years ago, the state of Oklahoma, including Gov. Mary Fallin, seemed to rally around unmanned aerial systems as an economic driver for the future of our state. Why is supporting and developing the UAS industry such a win for Oklahoma? The UAS industry is the major future expansion area in aerospace, and Oklahoma is perfectly suited to be an international leader in this area. First, Oklahoma has always been an “aerospace state.” Clyde Cessna flew his first airplane in Oklahoma in 1913, and Wiley Post set a round-the-world solo flight record in 1933. Today, aerospace is 10 percent of the Oklahoma economy: 500 companies, 150,000 workers, $5 billion in payroll, and $12.5 billion of
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Research at Oklahoma State University • www.research.okstate.edu
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annual output. We have a huge aerospace focus in the state – from military (with Tinker, Vance and Altus Air Force bases), to the 500-plus aerospace companies in the state, to the largest military maintenance depot (Tinker AFB) in the U.S., and the largest civilian depot in the world (American Airlines). In addition, we have the FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, the largest FAA training location in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C.. The UAS industry will be exploding in the next few years. The world market in UAS is $5.9 billion this year, growing to $15.1 billion by 2022. The U.S. Department of Defense spent $3.9 billion on UAS in 2011 and will spend $5.5 billion by 2025. There are 1,300 different UAVs currently being tested or manufactured worldwide. Estimates
are that 50,000 new jobs will be created by 2015 in UAS – and Oklahoma plans to be a major part of this growth. Many countries already use UAS, and the U.S. will soon be using them nationwide after the FAA starts opening up national airspace to UAS in 2015. We believe the UAS industry will explode in the U.S. after 2015 for first responders, fire, police; agriculture, ranching; inspecting rail lines, oil and gas lines and stacks, wind turbines, environmental areas; communication; security, etc. In what ways is Oklahoma set apart to be a worldwide leader in UAS? Oklahoma is becoming a world leader in UAS and a strong competitor for one of the six national test ranges