Military Radars Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecast (2025 - 2030)

Global Military Radars Market Trends and Insights

Growing Geopolitical Tensions and Defense Modernization Budgets

Defense spending reached a peacetime record in 2024 as 23 NATO members finally met the 2% of GDP pledge, allocating sizable funds to radar modernization programs.^{[1]NATO Public Diplomacy Division, “NATO Defence Expenditure 2024,” NATO, nato.int} Poland’s USD 4.75 billion Wisła initiative couples Patriot missiles with Giraffe 4A sensors to extend detection 400 km east.^{[2]Defense News Staff, “5G Spectrum Sharing Poses Challenges for Military Radars,” Defense News, defensenews.com} Taiwan boosted its 2024 radar budget by 7.7%, targeting phased-array upgrades for Tien Kung III interceptors.^{[3]Reuters Staff, “Taiwan Proposes Record Defence Budget for 2024,” Reuters, reuters.com} Japan followed with over-the-horizon procurements to close cruise-missile gaps exposed during North Korean tests. Together, these programs ensure a steady baseline for the military radars market through at least the medium term.

Rapid Deployment Needs for Counter-UAS and Hypersonic Threats

Hypersonic weapons compress the engagement window to under six minutes, challenging legacy sensors. The US orbited eight tracking satellites in 2024 to cue ground radars for terminal intercept.^{[4]Space News Staff, “SDA Awards Contracts for Next-Generation Tracking Satellites,” Space News, spacenews.com} NATO's TWISTER program links TRML-4D ground arrays with space feeds to track glide vehicles. Saudi Arabia's installation of 47 KuRFS radars following the 2019 oil-facility strike underscores the growing urgency for counter-drone measures. Ukraine's 2024 battlefield adoption of more than 200 mobile counter-UAS radars further validates the trend. The demand for rapid-deployable, software-reconfigurable sensors, therefore, elevates the global military radars market's growth trajectory.

Shift Toward Multi-Function AESA and SDR

Active ESA technology eliminates moving parts and supports simultaneous missions. Northrop Grumman’s APG-83 retrofit for F-16 Block 70 adds synthetic-aperture mapping without airframe changes. Lockheed Martin’s TPS-80 G/ATOR swapped from counter-battery to air-surveillance mode in two minutes during 2024 trials. Italian Kronos Grand Naval integrates X- and S-band arrays in a single mast, trimming topside weight by 30%.^{[5]Naval Technology Editors, “F126 Frigate Programme,” Naval Technology, naval-technology.com} Power demand, however, rises about 40%, forcing navies to reinforce generation capacity, as seen on India’s Project 17B frigates. These factors collectively advance the military radars market toward ubiquitous software-defined architectures.

Integration of Radar Data Into JADC2 Architecture

The increasing focus on JADC2 is driving demand for advanced military radar systems. Modern battlefields necessitate seamless coordination across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. To support this, radar systems are required to provide real-time, high-fidelity data that can be shared instantly across various platforms and command centers. Project Convergence 2024 linked an Army Sentinel radar, a Navy Aegis destroyer, and Air Force F-35 sensors in a single shoot chain, underscoring interoperability expectations. Interface testing for similar capabilities deferred the Army’s LTAMDS milestone by 14 months. Australia’s AUD 7 billion (USD 4.51 billion) AIR 6500 stipulates compatibility with US IBCS networks. With the transition toward network-centric warfare, radar systems are being upgraded with features such as enhanced data-fusion capabilities, open-architecture software, AI-driven signal processing, and secure communication links. These advancements enable the integration of radar data into unified command-and-control (C2) networks, enhancing threat tracking, decision-making efficiency, and targeting precision.

Supply-Chain Constraints for GaN Semiconductor Materials

The increasing use of GaN technology in military radar systems is straining the global supply chain for GaN semiconductor materials. GaN provides enhanced power density, thermal efficiency, and wide-band performance, making it critical for advanced AESA radar systems. However, its availability is constrained by various factors. Global GaN wafer capacity reached approximately 1.8 million six-inch-equivalent units in 2024; however, defense programs alone accounted for nearly one-quarter of that total, further tightening the supply. Wolfspeed reported 52-week lead times, pushing AN/TPY-4 deliveries nine months to the right. China, which refines 80% of gallium, imposed export licensing in 2023, forcing Western contractors to stockpile or certify alternative sources. US CHIPS Act funding earmarked less than 5% for GaN, so relief is unlikely before 2027. The bottleneck tempers near-term growth of the military radars market.

Spectrum-Allocation Pressures From Commercial 5G/6G Roll-Outs

The global expansion of commercial 5G networks and the anticipated introduction of 6G are exerting considerable pressure on radio-frequency spectrum bands that have historically been allocated for military radar systems. Governments and regulatory authorities are reallocating or repurposing parts of the spectrum to accommodate high-bandwidth commercial communications, thereby decreasing the availability of interference-free frequencies for defense purposes. C-band auctions raised USD 81 billion in 2021 and triggered retrofit expenses of approximately USD 235 million for military radars that now share congested bands. An IEEE 2024 study recorded an 8–12% detection-range penalty for cognitive radar waveforms operating near dense 5G towers.^{[6]IEEE Authors, “Cognitive Radar Performance Near 5G Towers,” IEEE Xplore, ieee.org} NATO estimates that, by 2028, fewer than 60% of legacy bands will remain interference-free. South Korea logged a 23% increase in false alarms on Cheongung-II systems near Seoul, underscoring operational risk. Spectrum congestion, therefore, erodes performance and elongates test cycles for new entrants to the military radars market.

Segment Analysis

By Platform: Mobile Sensors Rebalance Legacy Land Dominance

Land platforms accounted for 39.21% of the military radars market revenue in 2024, driven by established counter-battery and integrated air defense deployments along NATO's eastern flank and the Korean Peninsula. However, airborne sensors are expanding at a rate of 6.15% annually as nations accelerate AESA retrofits and deploy unmanned early-warning nodes. The E-7 Wedgetail procurement replaces aging E-3s and introduces Northrop Grumman's 180-track multi-role array, underscoring the momentum behind this initiative. Budget friction constrains near-term naval orders, yet Australia's Hobart-class upgrades and Japan's Aegis-equipped vessels sustain incremental demand. Space-based synthetic-aperture consortia, such as Capella Space, inject venture capital that targets 15-minute revisit times, aiming to extend the military radars market share into low-latitude imaging. Over the forecast horizon, land will stay the largest revenue pool. Yet, airborne and space domains will claim a rising portion of R&D budgets, signaling a gradual shift toward multi-domain mobility.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Product Type: Multifunction Arrays Become Program Baselines

Tracking and fire control sensors held 31.57% of 2024 revenue, reflecting continued Patriot, THAAD, and Aegis modernization, while surveillance and AEW radars are projected to notch a 6.45% CAGR, the quickest pace in the military radars market. Germany’s F126 frigate has chosen Thales Sea Fire, which is capable of guiding 16 missiles and maintaining continuous 360° coverage, illustrating the demand for consolidated functions. Counter-drone sensors, which were almost nonexistent five years ago, are now experiencing double-digit growth as urban air mobility (UAM) and consumer drone proliferation require affordable detection at short ranges. Weapon-locating and C-RAM procurements accelerated after Ukraine demonstrated the battlefield value of these systems. The shift toward software-switchable modes enables operators to upload new missions without swapping hardware, thereby helping the military radars market diversify beyond single-purpose line items.

By Technology: Software Definition Dominates as Quantum Emerges

Software-defined architectures claimed 48.75% of the 2024 military radars market share, underpinned by systems like the TPS-80 G/ATOR, which can reconfigure roles in minutes. Mechanically steered arrays endure only in legacy fleets and cost-sensitive exports. Saab’s 2024 Giraffe 1X is priced with software-defined features 30% below those of older mechanically scanned competitors, lowering the entry barrier. Quantum prototypes advance at 5.85% CAGR, buoyed by USD 1.5 billion in R&D funding and DARPA support for miniaturized receivers. Technical hurdles, such as cryogenics, entangled-photon generation, and verification, mean quantum radar remains experimental this decade. Nonetheless, its ability to detect stealth platforms drives sustained investment that will influence future cycles of the military radars market.

By Range: Medium Segments Reinforce Layered Defense

Long-range sensors controlled 41.25% of 2024 sales, anchored by strategic early-warning needs, while medium-range systems are set to rise at a 5.33% CAGR as militaries adopt layered defense architectures. Poland’s USD 2.3 billion NAREW program merges CAMM-ER interceptors with Giraffe 4A radars to provide overlapping coverage. Short-range radars, such as KuRFS, defend critical infrastructure by detecting quadcopters at a range of 10 km and feeding automated effectors. Software-defined arrays now toggle between long and short modes, gradually eroding rigid range demarcations. Still, procurement documents continue to categorize bids by instrumented distance, so range segmentation endures within the military radars market size taxonomy.

By Component: Processing Elements Capture Margins

Antennas delivered 26.85% of component revenue in 2024, yet AI-enabled signal processors are positioned for a 6.73% CAGR, outpacing every other element. Northrop Grumman’s SABR reduced false-alarm rates by 35% in clutter, thanks to machine-learning algorithms, emphasizing processing power as a competitive differentiator. Transmit-receive modules maintain mid-teens share, but GaN power-amplifier supply gaps prolong delivery schedules, particularly for platforms like F-35 Block 4. Stabilization systems now incorporate fiber-optic gyros that maintain pointing accuracy under 6G airframe loads. Vertical integration by prime contractors pressures single-component specialists, shaping consolidation trends in the military radars market.

Geography Analysis

North America generated 37.38% of the 2024 revenue for the military radars market, buoyed by US Department of Defense outlays exceeding USD 850 billion, of which USD 4.8 billion was allocated to radar upgrades and new starts. The region leads in software-defined architectures and JADC2-ready interfaces, as exemplified by the AN/TPY-4 and LTAMDS programs. Canada's NORAD modernization adds Arctic demand, sustaining a medium-term pipeline. 

The Asia-Pacific region is advancing at a 7.12% CAGR, the fastest rate worldwide. India's USD 650 million Uttam AESA production line, Japan's JPY 420 billion (USD 2.68 billion) radar modernization, and South Korea's KF-21 onboard AESA collectively illustrate regional indigenization and offset dynamics. China's assertive posture is driving its neighbors to accelerate procurement, positioning the Asia-Pacific region to challenge North American revenue leadership by the early 2030s. 

Europe's growth is moderate as funds shift to munitions stockpiles after Ukraine's artillery usage. Poland's defense spending, accounting for 4.7% of its GDP, and Germany's EUR 350 million (USD 403.45 million) TRML-4D contract highlight targeted investments in the sector. The Middle East continues to utilize foreign military sales, with the UAE's MQ-9B package, including SeaVue maritime radars, valued at USD 290 million. 

In contrast, South America and Africa remain smaller contributors, collectively accounting for less than 8% of revenue. Overall, geographic diversification helps mitigate cyclical risks and supports the steady growth of the military radars market.