Tactical Communication Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Tactical Communication Market Report is Segmented by Platform (Land, Airborne, and More), Component (Hardware, and More), Technology (SATCOM, and More), Frequency Band (HF (3-30 MHz), and More), Communication Type (Data, and More), End-User (Defense Forces, and More) and Geography (North America, Europe, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Tactical Communication Market Size and Share

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Tactical Communication Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The tactical communications market stood at USD 21.60 billion in 2025 and will advance at a 6.54% CAGR to USD 29.65 billion by 2030. Rising defense digitalization, expanding budgets, and a clear pivot toward network-centric warfare sustain demand across all major buying regions. Hardware still rules spending, yet service-heavy integration and training workstreams record faster growth as software-defined architectures proliferate. Land forces remain the largest buyers, but space platforms now capture the strongest growth wave thanks to low-orbit constellations that extend Link 16 and direct-to-cell services into every theater. Commercial SATCOM’s entrance, paired with mesh networking advances, keeps competitive pressure high and compresses technology cycles for incumbents. Asia-Pacific leads revenue today, while North America grows the quickest on the back of Pentagon spectrum-sharing pilots and zero-trust mandates.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By platform, land systems led with 47.90% revenue share in 2024; space platforms are projected to expand at a 9.23% CAGR to 2030.
  • By component, hardware held 59.23% of the tactical communications market size in 2024, while services will climb at an 8.11% CAGR through 2030.
  • By technology, VHF/UHF platforms accounted for a 32.48% share of the tactical communications market size in 2024; SATCOM will grow at a 7.51% CAGR over the same horizon.
  • By frequency, HF systems formed a 33.56% share in 2024, and UHF solutions are rising at a 6.83% CAGR through 2030.
  • By communication type, data links captured a 32.12% share in 2024, whereas video traffic is advancing at an 8.75% CAGR to 2030.
  • By end user, defense forces commanded 76.91% revenue share in 2024; homeland security demand is accelerating at a 7.03% CAGR.
  • By geography, Asia-Pacific contributed 34.16% revenue in 2024, while North America posts the highest regional CAGR of 5.92% to 2030.

Segment Analysis

By Platform: Space Segment Drives Innovation

Land systems accounted for 47.90% of the tactical communications market size in 2024, underscoring armies’ persistent need for secure voice and data at the platoon level. Recent US Army field tests replace standalone radios with unified edge nodes that blend SATCOM, MANET, and LTE links in one chassis. Armored vehicle upgrades now include multi-channel transceivers so crews can roam between bands without manual retuning. Complementary airborne nodes turn CMV-22 Ospreys into ad hoc command posts, extending carrier strike group coverage during E-2D downtime. Naval requests for AN/SRQ-4 gear illustrate blue-water appetite for over-horizon helicopter links that reach 100 nautical miles.

Space platforms captured only a single-digit share but remain the fastest-growing slice, expanding at a 9.23% CAGR to 2030. Link 16 messages routed through low-orbit satellites now reach far beyond line-of-sight and cut relay latency by half. Direct-to-cell initiatives, championed by SpaceX and Lynk, threaten to disrupt expensive legacy SATCOM frameworks.[5]Sandra Erwin, “Pentagon to Buy Commercial SATCOM for Resilient Networks,” SpaceNews, spacenews.com Defense ministries experiment with enterprise SATCOM models that pool military and commercial beams for resilience. France’s EUR 1 billion contract with Eutelsat demonstrates sovereign drive to secure bandwidth against geopolitical pressure. As launches get cheaper, proliferated constellations give planners redundancy that terrestrial nodes cannot match.

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

By Component: Services Acceleration Reflects Complexity

Hardware retained a 59.23% share in 2024, anchored by handhelds, vehicular kits, antennas, and Type-1 encryption modules. Software-defined architectures extend platform life because a new waveform now only needs a firmware push rather than a board swap, trimming ownership costs. Antennas evolve toward electronically steered designs that auto-select the best band based on terrain or interference. Encryption upgrades remain non-negotiable as zero-trust deadlines approach, driving demand for NSA-certified devices.

Services rise at an 8.11% CAGR, reflecting a shift from simple box sales to lifetime capability contracts. Integration services tie together terrestrial, satellite, and private 5G nodes into one operating picture, a skill set in short supply. The US Army’s C2 Fix program bundles radios with field installation, network tuning, and embedded training to shorten adoption curves. Predictive maintenance models use AI log crunching to schedule part swaps before failure, cutting mission downtime. Training curricula now teach soldiers to run waveform diagnostics and security checks as part of pre-mission prep.

By Technology: SATCOM Growth Transforms Connectivity

VHF/UHF links secured a 32.48% share of the tactical communications market size in 2024 because they deliver reliable push-to-talk voice across varied terrain. Inter-allied standards keep these bands relevant for joint drills. HF radios regain favor for long-haul fallback paths that survive satellite outages, an insight reinforced by Eastern European conflict zones.

SATCOM technologies log a 7.51% CAGR through 2030, driven by commercial LEO fleets that provide sub-100 millisecond latency and global footprints. New Pentagon contracts explicitly carve space for commercial capacity buys to hedge against adversary anti-satellite weapons. Hybrid mesh designs shift live traffic between terrestrial MANET nodes and space relays depending on jamming or terrain. Waveform suppliers respond with high-throughput modes like L3Harris Vapor that can run 10 Mbps over contested links. LTE and 5G tactical cells gain adoption for base defense and convoy security, letting forces leverage commodity chipsets hardened for military use.

By Frequency Band: UHF Expansion Drives Growth

HF systems controlled 33.56% revenue in 2024 by furnishing ionosphere-bounced voice and low-speed data links that need no satellites. VHF remains a staple for squad radios and rotary-wing command tracks. L- and S-band antennas support GPS and radar, while C-band upfrequencies feed.

UHF products grow fastest at 6.83% CAGR, balancing antenna size, range, and data payloads. The United States opted to retain lower 3 GHz slices for military duties, signaling UHF’s irreplaceable role in mobile operations. Frequency-hopping and spread-spectrum enhancements protect against jamming, and cognitive tuning helps radios sidestep congestion in real time

Tactical Communications Market_Market Share by Frequency Band
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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Communication Type: Video Surge Reflects Intelligence Demands

Data traffic captured a 32.12% share in 2024, moving maps, chat, and sensor metrics between echelons. Secure voice still underpins immediate command flows, especially during GPS-denied missions.

Video traffic records an 8.75% CAGR to 2030 as commanders demand live feeds from aircraft, loitering munitions, and body-worn cams. The US Navy’s millimeter-wave trials achieved 1 Gb/s at one nautical mile for carrier-deck relay of high-definition imagery. AI services layered onto the stream flag unusual motion or unidentified vehicles within seconds, cutting analyst load. Advanced codecs keep bit rates manageable, and adaptive streaming scales quality when bandwidth constricts.

By End User: Homeland Security Acceleration

Defense forces held 76.91% revenue in 2024, with armies absorbing the lion’s share due to troop numbers and distributed command posts. Navies equip surface vessels and maritime patrol aircraft for beyond-line-of-sight links, while air forces integrate airborne gateways that steer data across fighter, tanker, and drone meshes.

Homeland security spending grows 7.03% per year as border guards, police, and disaster-response agencies adopt military-grade resilience. DIU’s California pilot proved that a private 5G bubble can keep responders connected when wildfires torch cell towers. Mesh radios let tactical teams coordinate during SWAT callouts without relying on commercial trunks. Cross-agency interoperability remains a prime buying criterion, pushing suppliers to deliver multi-band, multi-protocol products in ruggedized form factors.

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific produced 34.16% of 2024 revenue, buoyed by China’s broad modernization and East Asia’s 7.8% budget jump to USD 433 billion. Beijing’s anti-access investment fuels orders for encrypted VHF sets and high-capacity SATCOM backup routes. Australia channels AUKUS funds into undersea mesh gateways, while India scales mountain-graded SDR kits for Himalayan patrols. Regional buyers often demand sovereignty over crypto modules, prompting local production partnerships.

North America logs the fastest CAGR at 5.92% through 2030. Pentagon pilots test spectrum-sharing tech at Utah ranges to free commercial mid-band while protecting tactical pipelines. Zero-trust migration inflates radio refresh budgets, and large Army Manpack awards flow to domestic vendors. Canada procures L3Harris multi-channel sets for arctic deployment, whereas Mexico outfits special forces with mesh handhelds for anti-cartel missions. The region’s industrial depth accelerates product iterations that often debut before foreign counterparts.

Europe’s growth curve steepened once Ukraine exposed analogous vulnerabilities. The Netherlands ordered EUR 1 billion (USD 1.15 billion) of Falcon IV radios under project FOXTROT to standardize across land and maritime units. Nordic nations pilot 5G-to-SDR hybrids for arctic resilience, and NATO procurement frameworks simplify cross-border buys. Middle Eastern clients prioritize jam-resistant downlinks for UAV fleets, while African states invest in mesh systems for wide-area border patrol despite budget limits. European projects increasingly specify open-architecture APIs, pressuring vendors to publish interface specs.

actical Communications Market_Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

Market leadership sits with L3Harris Technologies, Inc., RTX Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, BAE Systems plc, and Northrop Grumman Corporation, firms that combine radio hardware, waveforms, and in-house crypto approvals. L3Harris booked a USD 999 million Navy IDIQ for MIDS JTRS and nearly USD 300 million Army Manpack production in early 2025, cementing its backlog. RTX leverages airborne gateway heritage to chase Link 16 space relays, and General Dynamics pushes its AN/PRC-163 for special forces upgrades. Software-oriented challengers gain traction: Silvus Technologies drew a USD 4.4 billion valuation in a Motorola Solutions buyout that broadens public-safety reach. Himera and Skiftech rode frontline performance to US Army pilot awards, proving that combat validation can trump size barriers.

Strategic partnerships pivot around AI, open-system waveforms, and satellite integration. L3Harris pairs with Palantir to inject predictive analytics into radio firmware that auto-reconfigures based on threat cues. Nokia joins blackned to craft deployable 5G nodes for German forces, positioning itself outside traditional US incumbents. Consolidation remains rife: Anduril’s purchase of Klas extends edge compute and rugged router portfolios.

White-space opportunities include quantum-safe encryption, 5G direct-to-device services, and multiband soldier headsets under one battery footprint. Vendors able to certify Type-1 crypto and integrate LEO beams into handhelds will likely outpace peers through 2030. Cost per megabit metrics keep falling, forcing suppliers to recoup margins via lifecycle services, managed waveforms, and analytics subscriptions.

Tactical Communication Industry Leaders

  1. General Dynamics Corporation

  2. RTX Corporation

  3. BAE Systems plc

  4. General Dynamics Corporation

  5. L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Tactical Communication Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • June 2025: Nokia and blackned signed an MoU to deliver deployable 5G-tactical hybrids for German forces, merging commercial 5G with mission-critical routing.
  • May 2025: The US Space Force cleared the fielding of the Counter Communications System Meadowlands, boosting space electromagnetic-warfare defense.
  • April 2025: L3Harris secured up to USD 1.10 billion from the Dutch MOD for Falcon IV radios under FOXTROT.
  • January 2025: L3Harris received nearly USD 300 million for Army Manpack and Leader radio production under HMS.

Table of Contents for Tactical Communication Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Rising defense modernization and network-centric warfare
    • 4.2.2 Growing global defense expenditure
    • 4.2.3 Demand for secure, resilient, high-throughput links
    • 4.2.4 5G-NTN and private LTE enabling high-bandwidth ISR
    • 4.2.5 AI-driven cognitive radios for dynamic spectrum use
    • 4.2.6 Miniaturized SWaP-C soldier-worn mesh devices
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Spectrum congestion and limited bandwidth allocation
    • 4.3.2 High cyber-hardening costs under zero-trust mandates
    • 4.3.3 Export controls and ITAR slow multinational programs
    • 4.3.4 Interoperability issues with legacy analog systems
  • 4.4 Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitute Products
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Platform
    • 5.1.1 Land
    • 5.1.2 Airborne
    • 5.1.3 Naval
    • 5.1.4 Space
  • 5.2 By Component
    • 5.2.1 Hardware
    • 5.2.1.1 Transceivers/Transmitters
    • 5.2.1.2 Receivers
    • 5.2.1.3 Antennas
    • 5.2.1.4 Encryption Devices
    • 5.2.1.5 Headsets and Microphones
    • 5.2.1.6 Other Hardware
    • 5.2.2 Software
    • 5.2.2.1 Waveform Software
    • 5.2.2.2 Encryption Software
    • 5.2.2.3 Network Management Software
    • 5.2.3 Services
    • 5.2.3.1 Integration
    • 5.2.3.2 Maintenance and Support
    • 5.2.3.3 Training
  • 5.3 By Technology
    • 5.3.1 SATCOM
    • 5.3.2 VHF/UHF
    • 5.3.3 HF
    • 5.3.4 Data Link
    • 5.3.5 Other Technologies (MANET, LTE and 5G Tactical)
  • 5.4 By Frequency Band
    • 5.4.1 HF (3-30 MHz)
    • 5.4.2 VHF (30-300 MHz)
    • 5.4.3 UHF (300 MHz–3 GHz)
    • 5.4.4 L-band
    • 5.4.5 S-band
    • 5.4.6 C-band and Above
  • 5.5 By Communication Type
    • 5.5.1 Secure Voice
    • 5.5.2 Data
    • 5.5.3 Video
    • 5.5.4 Other
  • 5.6 By End User
    • 5.6.1 Defense Forces
    • 5.6.1.1 Army
    • 5.6.1.2 Navy
    • 5.6.1.3 Air Force
    • 5.6.1.4 Special Operations
    • 5.6.2 Homeland Security
    • 5.6.2.1 Law Enforcement
    • 5.6.2.2 Emergency Services
    • 5.6.2.3 Border Security
  • 5.7 By Geography
    • 5.7.1 North America
    • 5.7.1.1 United States
    • 5.7.1.2 Canada
    • 5.7.1.3 Mexico
    • 5.7.2 Europe
    • 5.7.2.1 United Kingdom
    • 5.7.2.2 Germany
    • 5.7.2.3 France
    • 5.7.2.4 Russia
    • 5.7.2.5 Rest of Europe
    • 5.7.3 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.7.3.1 China
    • 5.7.3.2 India
    • 5.7.3.3 Japan
    • 5.7.3.4 South Korea
    • 5.7.3.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.7.4 South America
    • 5.7.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.7.4.2 Rest of South America
    • 5.7.5 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.7.5.1 Middle East
    • 5.7.5.1.1 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.7.5.1.2 United Arab Emirates
    • 5.7.5.1.3 Turkey
    • 5.7.5.1.4 Rest of Middle East
    • 5.7.5.2 Africa
    • 5.7.5.2.1 South Africa
    • 5.7.5.2.2 Rest of Africa

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Thales Group
    • 6.4.2 L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
    • 6.4.3 Northrop Grumman Corporation
    • 6.4.4 RTX Corporation
    • 6.4.5 General Dynamics Corporation
    • 6.4.6 BAE Systems plc
    • 6.4.7 Ultra Electronics Holdings
    • 6.4.8 Terma Group
    • 6.4.9 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
    • 6.4.10 Lockheed Martin Corporation
    • 6.4.11 Elbit Systems Ltd.
    • 6.4.12 Curtiss-Wright Corporation
    • 6.4.13 Rohde & Schwarz India Pvt. Ltd.
    • 6.4.14 CAES (Honeywell International Inc.)
    • 6.4.15 Leonardo S.p.A
    • 6.4.16 Saab AB
    • 6.4.17 Comtech Telecommunications Corp.
    • 6.4.18 HENSOLDT AG
    • 6.4.19 Silvus Technologies
    • 6.4.20 Bharat Electronics Ltd.
    • 6.4.21 Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-Need Assessment
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Global Tactical Communication Market Report Scope

The tactical communication market is dedicated to crafting and deploying cutting-edge communication systems tailored for military and defense purposes. These systems ensure rapid, secure, and reliable information exchange, crucial for achieving operational success in various environments. The market spans a range of applications, including land, naval, and airborne communications. The land segment addresses the military domain's unique communication needs and challenges, enhancing strategic coordination and operational flexibility across all branches.

The tactical communication market is segmented by application and geography. By application, the market is segmented into airborne, naval, and land. The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts for the tactical communications market in major countries across different regions. For each segment, the market size is provided in terms of value (USD).

By Platform Land
Airborne
Naval
Space
By Component Hardware Transceivers/Transmitters
Receivers
Antennas
Encryption Devices
Headsets and Microphones
Other Hardware
Software Waveform Software
Encryption Software
Network Management Software
Services Integration
Maintenance and Support
Training
By Technology SATCOM
VHF/UHF
HF
Data Link
Other Technologies (MANET, LTE and 5G Tactical)
By Frequency Band HF (3-30 MHz)
VHF (30-300 MHz)
UHF (300 MHz–3 GHz)
L-band
S-band
C-band and Above
By Communication Type Secure Voice
Data
Video
Other
By End User Defense Forces Army
Navy
Air Force
Special Operations
Homeland Security Law Enforcement
Emergency Services
Border Security
By Geography North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe United Kingdom
Germany
France
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Middle East Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Turkey
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Rest of Africa
By Platform
Land
Airborne
Naval
Space
By Component
Hardware Transceivers/Transmitters
Receivers
Antennas
Encryption Devices
Headsets and Microphones
Other Hardware
Software Waveform Software
Encryption Software
Network Management Software
Services Integration
Maintenance and Support
Training
By Technology
SATCOM
VHF/UHF
HF
Data Link
Other Technologies (MANET, LTE and 5G Tactical)
By Frequency Band
HF (3-30 MHz)
VHF (30-300 MHz)
UHF (300 MHz–3 GHz)
L-band
S-band
C-band and Above
By Communication Type
Secure Voice
Data
Video
Other
By End User
Defense Forces Army
Navy
Air Force
Special Operations
Homeland Security Law Enforcement
Emergency Services
Border Security
By Geography
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe United Kingdom
Germany
France
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Middle East Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Turkey
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Rest of Africa
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the size of the tactical communications market and how fast is it expanding?

The market is valued at USD 21.60 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 29.65 billion by 2030, advancing at a 6.54% CAGR.

Which platform category shows the highest growth momentum?

Space-based tactical communications solutions post the fastest growth, registering a 9.23% CAGR between 2025 and 2030 as militaries leverage low-Earth-orbit constellations for Link 16 and direct-to-cell connectivity.

Which technology segment is gaining the most traction?

SATCOM technologies lead technology-level expansion with a 7.51% CAGR, driven by commercial high-throughput satellites integrated into defense networks for resilient, high-bandwidth links.

Which geographic markets dominate revenue and growth?

Asia-Pacific holds the largest revenue share at 34.16% in 2024, while North America records the strongest regional CAGR at 5.92% through 2030 owing to sizable U.S. modernization programs.

What are the primary drivers behind rising demand for tactical communications?

Defense modernization toward network-centric warfare, escalating global defense budgets, and the need for secure, high-throughput communications in contested environments remain the chief demand catalysts.

What constraints could hinder market growth?

Spectrum congestion amid growing 5G deployments and the high costs of implementing zero-trust cyber-hardening architectures are the leading restraints affecting near-term adoption.

Page last updated on: June 21, 2025

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