Feature

How aerospace & defence technology is shaping the modern world

While large scale conflict can often result in technological breakthroughs, the pursuit of peace also drives innovation too. As Mark Patrick, Supplier Marketing Manager (EMEA) at Mouser Electronics, explains, this dichotomy has far-reaching implications that help shape the modern world.

01/07/2019 11:23:10

There are many parallels between the commercial and high-reliability electronics sectors, with a history of cross-fertilisation. The concept of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) has been part of the defence sector for several decades, while the design philosophy of open architectures arguably started in Hi-Rel sectors, but now pervades the IT industry. Standards exist because large industries like aerospace and defence support a huge number of suppliers that must be able to cooperate yet remain competitive.

The aerospace and defence industry benefits from and helps drive innovation in the global electronics industry. The size of the defence market encourages investment, and this can often shape the direction of other markets; while conversely, trends like IoT also exert an influence on the way the defence industry develops. This symbiosis means many of the technologies, primarily developed for one market, will have applications in others – helping to mitigate risk and therefore promote greater overall confidence in R&D spend by semiconductor manufacturers.

Read the full article in the July issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.