Innovation S-curve for the aerospace and defense industry
The aerospace and defense industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by the uptake of advanced technology and the increasing importance of technologies such as hypersonics and advanced materials. In the past three years alone, there have been over 174,000 patents filed and granted in the defense and aerospace industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in Aerospace, Defence & Security: Ultrasonic non-destructive testing.
However, not all innovations are equal or follow a stable upward trend. On the other hand, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those in the emerging stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the future trajectory and impact they will have.
180+ innovations will shape the aerospace and defense industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresight, which plots the S-curve for the aerospace and defense industry using innovation intensity models put together on over 262,000 patents, 180+ innovation areas will shape the industry's future.
Within the emerging innovation stage, bonded fiber laminates, thermoplastic elastomer laminates, and vibration suppression devices are disruptive technologies in the early application stages and should be tracked closely. Centrifugal fan impellers, gas turbine engine testing, and ceramic composite laminates are some accelerating innovation areas where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among upgrading innovation areas are protective blade coatings and blade alloy welding, which are well-established in the industry.
