Airborne Pods Market Report

Market Insights

Airborne pods refer to an external pod structure that is designed to provide better aerial detection, recognition, identification, targeting, communication, data linking, and self-defensive capabilities to an aircraft. It is used to convert a normal aircraft into a warfare or surveillance aircraft. Previously, systems and components of these pods were individually used in different sections of an aircraft. For instance; cameras, radars, and sensors could be equipped in the wings, fuselage, or the nose of the cockpit of an aircraft, whereas sensors, radars, and their components, could be used separately in some warfare helicopters, such as Apache and Black Hawk.

In an airborne pod, there are many components including data link systems, sensors, radars, environment cooling systems, and modem assembly. All these components help an aircraft overcome the problems and difficulties, such as detecting, recognizing, and aiming a target in different ranges. Every component inside a pod has its importance, such as a data link system providing real-time data linking from air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-water operations in different ranges where range depends upon a lot of factors, such as size and lenses of camera and sensors. The communication system offers the capability of clear and real-time communication between the aircraft and the base. The environment cooling system keeps the atmosphere cool inside the pod when it gets heated due to the fast processing of systems and high-speed aircraft, especially combat aircraft, at higher altitudes. A sensor or camera lens must withstand at required atmosphere for clear image processing.

Previously, metals, such as aluminum and steel, were mainly used to manufacture airborne pods but due to their higher weight and significant maintenance cost, the industry has started shifting towards composite materials. In the last few decades, composite materials have become the perennial choice in fabricating components and structure of pods as the materials not only offer the advantages of lightweight and high strength-to-weight ratio but also improve the overall pod aesthetics.  The modernized aircraft pod design is rich in composites with reduced aerodynamic drag, due to its smooth airflow design. This further helps in carrying more components inside a pod, due to its lightweight and more cabin space inside the pod. This, in turn, helps the manufacturers to offer multi-functionality in one pod.

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Airborne pods, a sizeable market, could not escape from the pandemic’s wrath and experienced a decline of over 8% in 2020. However, the industry is swiftly rebounding from the year 2021 onwards well backed by a higher focus of the defense authorities on building excellent capabilities including airborne pods. Growing military expenditure, especially in the developing economies including China and India, the emergence of ISR due to security reasons, increasing demand for advanced targeting systems, and a rising military aircraft upgradation are the major growth factors that are burgeoning the demand for airborne pods in various countries. Overall, the airborne pods market is likely to rebound at a promising CAGR of 3.9% in the long run to reach US$ 3.6 Billion in 2027.

Recent Product Developments: There has been an increase in the development of pods with real-time data linking with communication and high strength with multi-features in one pod in order to increase efficiency. Another key requirement in the market is the development of long-range targeting pods with a better aiming system with day/night visibility.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions: There have been several mergers and acquisitions in the market over the years. In November 2018, United Technologies announced the completion of its Rockwell Collins acquisition, after which it merged its newly acquired business with UTC Aerospace Systems to form Collins Aerospace. Later in 2020, Raytheon and United Technologies merged, bringing under one umbrella companies like Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins) and engine maker Pratt & Whitney. Another major merger was the L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation merger.

Segments' Analysis

Based on the pod type, the market is bifurcated into Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance (ISR), Targeting, Self-Protection/Countermeasure, and Others. ISR is likely to remain the most dominant segment of the market over the next five years. ISR pod offers a wide array of advantages, such as precise identification, detection, and recognition of targets. It also converts a normal combat aircraft or a helicopter into a surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft/helicopter by adding such features to it. Its' capability is based on the sensors which are situated inside the pod. The larger the sensor and lenses of the camera, the larger the range of the pod. Targeting pods are likely to be the fastest-growing segment of the market, mainly driven by an increasing military aircraft procurement and the upgradation of the existing fleet of military aircraft.

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Based on the enclosure type, the market is segmented into composite pods and metal pods. The composite enclosure is likely to remain the dominant and faster-growing segment of the airborne pods market during the forecast period. It provides numerous advantages over its counterpart, such as good product performance, low maintenance cost, and excellent corrosion resistance. The composite enclosure further helps in reducing aerodynamic drag due to its smooth structure. It is expected that there would be a continuous shift from metal enclosures to composite enclosures in the coming years.

Based on the sensor type, the market is segmented into Electro-Optical (EO)/ Infrared (IR), Electronics Warfare (EW)/Electronic Attack (EA), Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM), and Others. The EO/IR segment is projected to maintain its dominance in the market over the next five years. Increasing demand for ISR pods and the rising emergence of ISR due to security reasons are the major growth drivers of EO/IR sensors in the market. Electronic warfare/electronic attack (EW/EA) sensors are likely to be the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period 2022-2027.

Based on regions, North America is projected to remain the largest market during the forecast period. The USA is the growth engine of the region’s market and has the largest fleet of combat aircraft across the world. Rising military aircraft fleet size with a high focus on their upgradation is likely to further boost the overall demand for airborne pods in the region in the foreseeable future. Additionally, all the major pod manufacturers are located in the region to support the defense department and OEMs, helping the country to own more advanced airborne pods.

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Asia-Pacific is likely to witness the highest growth during the same period, driven by a host of factors including an increasing defense budget of China, India, Japan, and South Korea, a continuous upgrade of the existing aircraft fleet, and a higher investment in developing and procuring UAVs, due to rising tensions in different parts of the region. 

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, pod manufacturers, tier-1 players, and end-users. The development of advanced pods and the formation of long-term contracts are some of the most common strategies adopted by the major players in order to remain competitive in the market. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors including price, product offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the airborne pods market.

• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Raytheon Company
• Thales Group
• Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Thales Group
• L3Harris Technologies
• Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC
• BAE Systems
• Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
• SAAB AB.

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s airborne pods market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate the growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Product portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.

The airborne pods market is segmented into the following categories. 

Airborne Pods Market, by Aircraft Type

• Combat Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Helicopter (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• UAVs (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Airborne Pods Market, by Pod Type

• ISR (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Targeting (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Self Protection/Countermeasure (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Airborne Pods Market, by Enclosure Type

• Composites (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Metals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Airborne Pods Market, by Sensor Type

• EO/IR (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• EW/EA (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• IRCM (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Airborne Pods Market, by Range Type

• Short-Range Pods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Intermediate-Range Pods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Long-Range Pods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Airborne Pods Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA and Rest of North America)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Middle East, Latin America, and Others)

Report Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

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