Market Dynamics
Introduction
The radar system market is vital in modern surveillance, navigation, and threat detection systems, ensuring real-time situational awareness and accurate tracking across diverse environments. It encompasses advanced radar technologies, including solid-state and conventional systems, that support defense operations, air traffic control, marine navigation, weather forecasting, and autonomous platforms. The market is projected to grow due to rising investments in military modernization, increased use of radar in unmanned systems, and expanding applications in commercial and civilian areas. Segmented by platform, application, technology, component, and region, the market presents significant opportunities for technological innovation. The growing need for precise detection, real-time data processing, and enhanced reliability is expected to drive continuous advancements in this industry.
Drivers
- The emergence of modern electronic and network-centric warfare is increasing the need for advanced radar systems that support real-time data exchange, multi-domain situational awareness, and coordinated defense operations across platforms.
- The development of phased array solid-state radar is a key driver, as these systems provide electronically steered, high-energy pencil beams that enable accurate target detection, multi-mode operation, and enhanced reliability without requiring mechanical movement.
- Significant investments by governments to upgrade existing fighter aircraft radar are contributing to market growth. Nations are modernizing their air combat fleets by retrofitting fighter jets with next-generation radar systems such as AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) to improve situational awareness and mission effectiveness.
- The increasing defense expenditure of emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil is leading to substantial investments in radar systems for border surveillance, air defense, and strategic deterrence.
- There is a growing demand for advanced weather monitoring radar systems driven by the need for accurate, real-time forecasting to ensure public safety, support aviation operations, and manage climate-related risks. High-resolution Doppler and dual-polarization radar technologies are being increasingly adopted to meet these needs.
Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions:
The radar systems market is witnessing significant joint ventures and acquisitions aimed at enhancing capabilities in surveillance, radar technology, and military applications. These collaborations are focused on developing cutting-edge radar solutions and improving operational efficiency in defense systems.
Key recent mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures include:
- 2021: Norway, through a government-to-government deal with the Netherlands, acquired five Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radars (GM200 MM/C) to equip the Norwegian Armed Forces with advanced mobile artillery location radar systems. The deal, valued at USD 94 million, included an option for three additional systems, with deliveries scheduled for 2023-2024.
Recent Product Development:
The radar systems market is seeing continuous advancements in product innovation, with companies introducing new radar systems for improved target detection, mobility, and operational flexibility. These products are designed to meet the evolving needs of defense, security, and air surveillance.
Key product developments include:
- March 2020: Northrop Grumman Corporation introduced the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HAMMR), a short- to medium-range X-band three-dimensional (3D) radar utilizing the active electronically scanned array (AESA) AN/APG-83 F-16 fighter radar for a ground-based, sense-on-the-move role.
- October 2020: Thales launched the AirMaster C, an airborne surveillance radar capable of target detection, which can be installed on fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. It features 4D electronically scanned array radar technology, offering multifunctional surveillance and target acquisition.
- 2021: Hensoldt AG developed the TRML-4D radar, a 4D electronically scanned array radar system with a range of over 250 km. The radar is capable of detecting, tracking, and classifying over 1,500 targets simultaneously, enhancing tactical surveillance and defense capabilities.
Market Segments' Analysis
Segmentations
|
List of Sub-Segments
|
Segments with High Growth Opportunity
|
Platform- Type Analysis
|
Air, Marine, Unmanned, Land, and Space
|
The Marine radar systems market is expected to lead due to the increasing demand for vessel tracking, collision avoidance, and monitoring illegal activities.
|
Frequency Band- Type Analysis
|
Single Band and Multiband
|
The single-band frequency segment is projected to dominate the market due to its wide applications in various radar systems, including military and defense.
|
Component- Type Analysis
|
Antenna, Transmitters, Receiver, Duplexer, Waveguide, and Others
|
The Antenna segment is expected to command the radar systems market, as antennas are crucial in radiating radio-frequency energy for radar systems.
|
Radar Type- Analysis
|
Active Radar and Passive Radar
|
The Active Radar segment is expected to dominate the market due to its ability to provide precise detection and tracking of targets, making it critical in military and aerospace applications.
|
Application- Type Analysis
|
Commercial, National Security, and Defense
|
Radar systems used in defense applications are expected to dominate, with significant growth in perimeter security, battlefield surveillance, and air defense.
|
Range- Type Analysis
|
Short-range Radar, Medium-range Radar, and Long-range Radar
|
The Long Range Radar is expected to witness high growth, especially for military and aerospace surveillance applications.
|
Technology- Type Analysis
|
Solid-state Radar and Conventional Radar
|
The Solid State Radar segment is expected to lead, driven by its efficiency, compact size, and durability, particularly in defense applications.
|
Dimension- Type Analysis
|
2D, 3D and 4D
|
4D radar systems are expected to grow due to their enhanced capabilities in target tracking and real-time data processing.
|
Regional Analysis
|
North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World
|
Europe is projected to contribute the largest share from 2021 to 2026, driven by advancements in radar technology and defense spending.
|
By Platform
"The marine segment is expected to experience the highest growth in the radar systems market during the forecast period."
The radar systems market is segmented into air, marine, unmanned, land, and space. Among these, the Marine segment is expected to experience the highest growth due to the increasing demand for radar systems in marine vessels for collision avoidance, tracking, and monitoring illegal activities like smuggling, piracy, and illicit fishing. Additionally, radar systems are crucial for military vessels, including warships and submarines, as well as for commercial vessels used in tourism, transportation, and freight operations. Marine radar systems, such as X-band and S-band radar, are widely utilized for both military and civilian applications.
By Frequency Band
"Single band frequency segment is projected to dominate the radar systems market during the forecast period."
The Component segment includes Antenna, Transmitters, Receivers, Duplexers, Waveguides, and Others. Among these, the antenna segment is expected to dominate the market due to its crucial role in radiating radio-frequency energy for radar systems. Antennas, such as phased-array antennas, are critical in ensuring the radar systems' efficiency and accuracy. The demand for advanced antennas, especially in military applications, where high-performance and precise tracking are essential, is expected to drive growth in this segment.
By Component
"Antenna segment is expected to command the radar systems market during the forecast period."
The Component segment includes Antenna, Transmitters, Receivers, Duplexers, Waveguides, and Others. Among these, the Antenna segment is expected to dominate the market due to its crucial role in radiating radio-frequency energy for radar systems. Antennas, such as phased-array antennas, are critical in ensuring the radar systems' efficiency and accuracy. The demand for advanced antennas, especially in military applications, where high-performance and precise tracking are essential, is expected to drive growth in this segment.
By Radar Type
The "Active Radar segment is expected to lead the radar systems market. During the forecast period."
The Radar Type segment includes Active and Passive Radar. The Active Radar segment is expected to dominate the market due to its superior ability to provide precise detection and tracking of targets. Active radars are used in applications where high-resolution detection and tracking of objects are critical, such as in military, aerospace, and defense operations. The increasing demand for real-time tracking, surveillance, and situational awareness is expected to propel the Active Radar segment’s growth.
By Application
"Radar systems used in defense applications are expected to dominate the market during the forecast period."
The Application segment includes Commercial, National Security, and Defense. The Defense application is expected to dominate the market, with significant growth in perimeter security, battlefield surveillance, air defense, and military space assets. Radar systems are crucial for providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities in military operations. The need for enhanced threat detection, early-warning systems, and defense capabilities is driving the demand for radar systems in defense applications.
By Range
"Long Range Radar segment is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period."
The Range segment includes Short Range, Medium Range, and Long Range radar systems. The Long Range Radar segment is expected to witness high growth, particularly in military and aerospace surveillance applications. These radar systems are essential for detecting and tracking distant objects, such as aircraft and missiles, providing critical early-warning capabilities. The growing focus on national defense and surveillance will continue to drive the demand for Range Radar systems.
By Technology
"The solid-state Radar segment is expected to lead the radar systems market during the forecast period."
The Technology segment includes Solid-state Radar and Conventional Radar. The Solid-state Radar segment is expected to lead the market due to its efficiency, compact size, durability, and reliability. Solid-state radars are particularly advantageous in defense applications, where high performance, minimal maintenance, and long operational lifetimes are required. The growing demand for solid-state radar systems in military and aerospace applications will drive their market dominance.
By Dimension
"4D radar systems are expected to dominate the market during the forecast period."
The Dimension segment includes 2D, 3D, and 4D radar systems. The 4D radar systems are expected to experience significant growth due to their enhanced capabilities in target tracking and real-time data processing. These radar systems offer superior situational awareness by providing additional information about the movement of objects, making them highly valuable in military and defense applications. Their ability to track targets in real-time and provide multidimensional data will drive their adoption.
Regional Analysis
"Europe is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period."
The Regional Analysis segment includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Europe is expected to contribute the largest share of the radar systems market from 2021 to 2026, driven by the region’s advancements in radar technology, strong defense spending, and growing investments in surveillance systems. The European market is expected to continue to lead in radar innovations and defense industry growth, further supporting its dominance in the global market.
Key Players
The radar system market is highly competitive, with key players focusing on innovations in radar technology, including advanced detection, tracking systems, and automated analytics. These companies are investing in cutting-edge radar components, such as phased-array antennas, solid-state radar systems, and AI-based processing algorithms to enhance the performance and precision of radar solutions for defense, aerospace, and commercial applications. Strategic collaborations, R&D investments, and technological advancements continue to drive the market forward, ensuring the delivery of highly reliable, efficient, and versatile radar systems.
Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)
- SAAB AB (Sweden)
- Raytheon Technologies (US)
- Mitsubishi Electric (Japan)
- Thales Group (France)
- Northrop Grumman Corp. (US)
- Lockheed Martin (US)
- Hensoldt AG (Germany)
- Telephonics Corp. (US)
- SRC, Inc. (US)
- Aselsan AS (Turkey)
Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.
Are you the leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Please write to us at sales@stratviewresearch.com
Report Features
This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for 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, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
- COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve
- Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
- Emerging trends.
- Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
- Key success factors.
The global radar systems market is segmented into the following categories.
Radar Systems Market, by Platform
- Air (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Marine (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Unmanned (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Land (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Space (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Frequency Band
- Single Band (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Multiband (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Component
- Antenna (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Transmitters (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Receiver (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Duplexer (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Waveguide (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Radar Type
- Active Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Passive Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Application
- Commercial (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- National Security (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Defense (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Range
- Short Range Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Medium Range Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Long Range Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Technology
- Solid-State Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Conventional Radar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Dimension
- 2D (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- 3D (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- 4D (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Radar Systems Market, by Region
- North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
- 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: Brazil, Saudi Arabian, and Others)