Surveillance Radars Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising geopolitical tensions: Territorial conflicts and disputes, particularly in regions including Asia Pacific, and the Middle East are driving the surveillance radar market demand. Nations are focusing on expanding their defense capabilities to secure borders, airspace, and maritime zones. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (sipri), in April 2024, the total global military expenditure reached USD 2443 billion in 2023, showcasing an increase of 6.8% from 2022. This increase was registered as the steepest year-on-year growth since 2009. Furthermore, the evolving nature of modern warfare, with an emphasis on pre-emptive surveillance and situational awareness, is prompting governments to invest further in the market.
• Demand for counter-drone systems: Drones pose unique challenges due to their small sizes, low altitude, and invulnerability, making them difficult to detect with traditional radar systems. This has led to an increased demand in the counter-drone market. Counter-drone radars are capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing UAV threats. Governments and private sectors are actively adopting these solutions to prevent unauthorized drone activity and potential security breaches. For instance, at Eurosatory 2024, Safran Electronics & Defense announced the launch of the Skyjacker counter-drone solution which is a C-UAS system, coupled with radar detection and optronic identification.

Challenges

• High development costs: The advanced market requires significant investments in research, prototyping, and testing. Incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and phased-array antennas further escalates costs. These expenses pose challenges for smaller manufacturers and nations with limited defense budgets, creating a market dominated by well-funded global players. Additionally, the long development timelines and high costs of upgrading existing infrastructure make affordability a critical concern.

• Cybersecurity risks: Modern radar systems, often integrated with AI, IoT, and networked platforms, are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Hackers can exploit these systems to disrupt operations, steal sensitive data, or manipulate radar outputs, jeopardizing national security and critical infrastructure. The rising sophistication of cyber threats, coupled with inadequate cybersecurity measures in legacy systems, underscores the need for robust security protocols and real-time threat detection mechanisms in radar technology.