Military Radar Systems Market Set to Soar: Innovations Driving Modern Battlefield Surveillance
With the global security environment undergoing rapid changes, the military radar systems market has gained momentum. According to MRFR, the market size is anticipated to hit USD 27.3 billion by 2032, with a growth rate of about 7.2% annually from 2024 to 2032.
Industry Overview
Radar systems remain fundamental to defence operations—including surveillance, early warning, missile tracking, air-space monitoring and navigation. The industry has broadened from simple target detection to networked, software-defined radar suites capable of multi-domain operations. MRFR notes that the push to replace outdated systems and heightened defence spending are fuelling demand.
Key Players’ Role
Key industry operators such as L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, SAAB AB, HENSOLDT, Leonardo SpA, Thales Group, ASELSAN AŞ and Israel Aerospace Industries are shaping the market. They play multiple roles: from R&D investment, to strategic government contracts, to global supply chain management and export. Their ability to deliver advanced radars (e.g., phased-array, digital beam forming, multi-band) is critical to staying ahead of evolving threats.
Segmentation Growth
Breaking down growth by segment reveals how the market expands:
By Type: Multi-function radars, synthetic aperture radars, tracking & fire control radars, weapon-locating radars & C-RAM etc.
By Platform: Land, naval, airborne, space-based radars.
By Dimension: 2D, 3D, and 4D systems—where 3D/4D adoption is rising to meet complex operational needs.
By Frequency Band: VHF/UHF, L-band, S-band, C-band, X-band, Ku/Ka/K bands.
By Range: Very short to long-range radar segments.
By Application: Air & missile defence, weapon guidance, ground-force protection & counter-battery, navigation, airborne mapping etc. Significantly, the air & missile defence application segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast window, reflecting the priority countries place on layered defence. Also, regionally Asia-Pacific is forecast to show the highest growth rate, even though North America remains the largest current market.
Market Outlook
Looking ahead into 2025 and beyond, the military radar systems market is positioned for sustained growth. Key trends to monitor include: the transition toward software-defined radars, radar-sensor fusion, artificial intelligence for threat recognition, and scalable architectures supporting unmanned systems. Additionally, the need for modernisation of legacy radars, and increased procurement in regions experiencing heightened security tensions, provide tailwinds. Conversely, factors such as the high cost of advanced radar systems, supply chain complexity and vulnerability to jamming/electronic-warfare may temper growth. Nevertheless, for companies and nations looking to build next-generation defence capabilities, the radar market presents a strategic opportunity. In short, aligning technology, procurement strategy and lifecycle services will be essential for capturing value in this evolving domain.