Looking Ahead: 2017's Top Technology Trends [PART 2 of 2]

Lockheed Martin scientists and engineers weigh in on the technology they predict will change the game in

2017.

Last week, industry experts at Lockheed Martin identified four technologies they expect to have a broader impact and use in 2017.This week, they share the final three trends poised to take center stage in the new year. Get caught up with trends one through four. 

5. Directed Energy

When you think of futuristic technology, there’s a good chance lasers are part of the picture. 

Developments in laser weapon technology have typically been driven by the needs of national security—mainly ballistic missile defense. And while we expect to see that trend continue in 2017, expect special attention on this technology as threats – such as rockets, mortars, drones and unmanned systems – continue to increase. 

In 2015, Lockheed Martin tested the Advanced Test High Energy Asset (ATHENA) laser weapon system, successfully disabling a truck's engine from a considerable distance. The team plans to expand testing to unmanned aerial vehicles in 2017. 

“We continue to invest in research and development in this arena so when we receive requirements from a customer, we’ll be ready to respond to however those requirements are expressed,” said Paul Shattuck, director and chief engineer for directed energy systems at Lockheed Martin. “Affordability is also more important than it ever used to be. Our goal is to design the crown jewel while creating a more affordable per-unit cost.”

( Learn more >at http://lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/aerospace-defense/directed-energy.html)

Expect developments in laser weapon technology to continue in 2017. The reason?

More threats. #TechTrends 

6. Energy Efficiency

The best way to reduce your energycost is to use less energy. And the easiest way to develop a more sustainable world is to figure out how to get the most out of the resources available. This is where energy efficiency comes in to play. 

The advancement of new technologies and approaches to save energy is quickly changing the way governments, businesses and home-owners think

about their utility costs. 

“The world used to think energy efficiency was just about using the right light bulbs and turning off appliances when not in use,” said Roger Flanagan, director of Utility Solutions for Lockheed Martin Energy. "With advancements in system automation and data analytics, we can now take a much more proactive approach to ensuring new construction, building retrofits and upgrades are optimized to do more with less energy." 

Today, we are integrating technologies that help customers reduce energy use, save on utility costs and protect the environment—and this is just the beginning.

( Learn more >at http://lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/energy.html)

7. Cyber-Hardened Weapons

It’s hard to rely on traditional defense mechanisms like armor and shields when it comes to protection from cyberattacks. But the Department of Defense is focused on “hardening” its

cyber networks, platforms and mission systems by literally making it harder to access and exploit the data. 

With new cyber adversaries surfacing every day, the size, scale and variety of systems and platforms that need to be protected grows. Cyber hardening and defense techniques, like the Cyber Kill Chain, help protect defense and government platforms from persistent threats. 

“Ultimately, it all comes back to securing threats and challenges across multiple domains and ensuring operators’ ability to successfully—and confidently—achieve their missions,” said Doug Booth, business development for Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Solutions.

( Learn more >at http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/aerospace-defense/cyber.html)Source: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/innovations/122016-top-defense-technology-trends-2017-part2.html