Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Platform (Fighter Jets, Combat Helicopter, Special Mission Aircraft and UAVs) By Frequency Band (L & S-band, X-band, and KU/K/KA band), By Application (Air to Sea, Air to Air, and Air to Ground) and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global airborne fire control radar market size was USD 2,655.4 million in 2020. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with airborne fire control radar witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a huge decline of 6.7 % in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 2,797.3 million in 2021 to USD 3,866.4 million in 2028 at a CAGR of 4.73% in the 2021-2028 period. The sudden rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

Airborne fire control radar (AFCR) is designed for fighter jet aircraft and combat helicopters to achieve air-to-air and air-to-surface targets during battlefield operation. Modular hardware and software technology, high mission reliability, multi-target tracking, and multimode operation ability are the prime features of AFCR. For instance, In August 2017, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd launched ELM-2032 multimode AFCR for air to sea and air-to-air strike missions. Single target track (STT), situation awareness mode (SAM), and dual-target track (DTT) are the key features of ELM-2032 multimode AFCR.

Order Cancellation of Military Aircraft Orders was Restricted Market Growth during COVID Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected the defense industry. The supply chain disruption of major key players in the defense industry is a prime reason to cancel several contracts. Airbus S.A.S. stated that it incurred a loss of around USD 2200 million owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Airbus S.A.S. and Boeing, the prime OEM of aircraft companies, are facing huge losses due to the order cancellation of aircraft orders. Aircraft OEM such as Airbus S.A.S. and Boeing planned to postpone the delivery of aircraft to overcome the economic crisis. For instance, Rafale fighter jets ordered by the Indian Air Force from Dassault Aviation (France) affected the delivery schedule of Rafale fighter jets.

Companies such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Raytheon Technologies Corporation are investing in the development of technologically advanced airborne fire control radar. These radars are used to provide better targeting capacity for fighter jets and combat helicopters that will favor the growth rate of the market in the forthcoming years.

LATEST TRENDS

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Rising Demand for Reconnaissance and Targeting ELM-20600 RTP POD to Aid Growth

The increasing demand for airborne fire control radar from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force augments market growth. The growing demand for target detection equipment will propel market growth. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd launched reconnaissance and targeting ELM-20600 RTP POD. The ELM-20600 RTP POD provides synthetic aperture radar imaging, target identification, and ground-based moving target indication.

The ELM-20600 RTP POD provides high-quality radar images of ground targets. Long-range, wide-area surveillance & reconnaissance, accurate geo-location data for targets, and long-range battle damage assessment. Fighter pilots can handle flexible mission planning and real-time target assessment due to the ELM-20600 RTP POD. The increasing use of ELM-20600 RTP POD from defense services is expected to boost the market growth.

DRIVING FACTORS

Growing Usage of Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) Technology to Drive Market Growth

Active electronically scanning array (AESA) technology is majorly used in the fifth-generation fighter jets to achieve high mission reliability and multi-target tracking capabilities. The radar technology is used to provide alternate modes of multi-mission capabilities for air-to-sea, air-to-air, and air-to-ground operations with air-missile weapon capacity. Moreover, it is used to provide high-resolution raid assessment for fighter jets to hit an air-to-air target.

The major use of AESA is used to provide high-resolution mapping, real beam map, and doppler beam sharpening to hit an air-to-ground target. In air-to-sea target detection, these systems provide multi-target (sea search target detection) capacity. Therefore, the increasing use of this technology will contribute to the global airborne fire control radar market growth during the forecast period.

Increasing Procurement of Fighter Jets to Improve the Aerial Strength to Promote Growth

In January 2021, the Indian cabinet committee on security had announced USD 6560 million contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to procure 83 Tejas light combat aircraft for Indian Air-force. The increasing procurement of fighter jets will directly raise the demand for airborne fire control radar as it is the prime system of a fighter jet.

In February 2021, Boeing initiated the production of T-7A Red Hawk trainer jets. The T-7A Red Hawk training jet is specially designated for the U.S. Air Force. The 3D model-based structure and technologically advanced data management systems are the prime features of the trainer jet. The increasing procurement of fighter jets to improve the aerial strength of several air forces across the globe is propelling the market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Maintenance Cost to Hamper Market Growth

The AFCR system comprises radar altimeters, radar transponders, gunfire-control systems, and weather radar sensors. All these components and systems require high maintenance costs to repair or replace the conventional component. Rapid growth in the maintenance cost of the AFCR system is propelling the market growth.

SEGMENTATION

By Platform Analysis

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Military Segment to Hold Largest Market Share

Based on the platform, the market is segregated as fighter jets, combat helicopter, special mission aircraft, and Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs).

The fighter jets segment held a dominant share of the market in 2020. This growth is attributed to the growing use of AFCR in fighter jets. Thales developed RDY-3 lightweight, multifunction, and modular airborne fire control radar. The RDY-3 radar is used to provide a cost-effective combat system for fifth-generation fighter jets. The radar consists of advanced combat modes, automatic target acquisition capacity, multi-shoot, and multi-track capability. At present, the Indian Air force adopts RDY-3 radar technology in its fighter jet Mirage 2000.

Rise in the demand for military UAVs, and Unmanned Ariel System for combat, surveillance & recognition and delivery applications has boost this market. IAI (Israel) has offered ELM-2054 radar for different UAVs platforms including Small Tactical UAVs (STUAV), and other compact airborne platforms.

By Frequency Band Analysis

X-band Segment to Register Higher CAGR

Based on the frequency band, the market is clubbed as L & S-band, X-band, and KU/K/KA band.

The X-band consists of an 8-12.5 Gigahertz frequency range. The X-band is expected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the ease of fighter aircraft access to form quickly scan operations in the X-band frequency range. The KU-band consists of a 12.5-18 Gigahertz frequency range.

The AFCR system is used to transmit electromagnetic waves and radio waves. The frequency of the radio waves is majorly dependent on the radar application. The S-band consists of a 2-4 Gigahertz frequency range. The segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This growth is due to the ease of fighter aircraft access in the S-band frequency range to operate the single target track and dual-target track capability. The track-while scan operation is most efficient in the S-band frequency range.

The K-band consists of an 18-26.5 Gigahertz frequency range. The Ka-band consists of a 26.5-40 Gigahertz frequency range. The extended frequency range of the KU/K/KA band is set to precise air-to-surface ranging.

By Application Analysis

Rising Demand for an Advanced Electro-Optical System to Improve Attacking Capacity of Helicopter to Boost Market Growth

Based on the application analysis, the market is segmented as Air to Sea, Air to Air, and Air to Ground.

The Air to Ground segment held the largest share of the market during the forecast period. The combat helicopters are equipped with an advanced electro-optical system and infra-red pods for detecting ground-based targets. For instance, In May 2019, the Indian Army adopted AFCR technology in Indian combat helicopters such as Dhruv, Chetak, and Cheetah to improve helicopters' attacking capacity.

The Air to Air segment is projected to register significant growth during the forecast period. The AFCR technology is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) methodology to attack the preset target with air missiles. Northrop Grumman Corporation is the major key player in the market. The company is providing an AFCR system for fighter platforms such as F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor. The AFCR system is allowing the pilot to track and shoot at multiple threats during the battlefield operation.

The Air to Sea segment consists of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. The AFCR technology is used to provide early warning to the fighter aircraft from the missile threat. The spaceborne surveillance and surface moving target indication are the prime features of airborne fire control radar.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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The global market of airborne fire control radar in North America stood at USD 891.41 million in 2020, and the region is expected to remain dominant in the forthcoming years. The growth is attributed to the presence of major aircraft manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Raytheon Technologies Corporation in the region.

The market in Europe is anticipated to experience considerable growth in the forthcoming years. The growing demand for the AFCR system from the Air Force of countries such as the U.K. and Germany is anticipated to support market growth. In June 2020, Airbus S.A.S. and German and Spanish Air Force signed a contract to procure 115 Eurofighter ESCAN Radars. The growing defense budget of the U.K. and Germany is further expected to refuel market growth. The British government had approved the defense budget of USD 21.9 billion during the financial year of 2020-2021.

Asia Pacific is estimated to capture the fastest growth during the forecast period. This is owing to the increasing procurement of fifth-generation fighter jets in China. Furthermore, the growing demand for Combat Helicopters and UAVs from emerging economies such as China and India is expected to provide tremendous prospects.  

South America is projected to experience lucrative opportunities for the airborne fire control market. This growth is attributed to Brazil and Argentina's government's growing funding for cost-efficient AFCR technology to improve the operational performance of fighter jets.

The Middle East & Africa is expected to propel the market growth during the forecast timeline. This rapid growth is due to the rising adoption of active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology in fighter jets from Saudi Arabia, Israel, and South Africa.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Saab AB Portfolio Includes Technologically Advanced Airborne Fire Control Radar System to Improve Aerial Strength

Saab AB is developing advanced radar technologies to provide an extreme fire control radar performance during the battlefield operation. The company produces the next generation of PS-05/A fighter radar. This type of fighter radar is designed to provide situational awareness for the fifth-generation fighter jets. It delivers the precise targeting performance for the fighter aircraft to set long-range targets.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Airbus S.A.S. (Netherlands)


• BAE Systems (The U.K.)


• General Dynamics Corporation (The U.S.)


• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (Israel)


• Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy)


• Lockheed Martin Corporation (The U.S.)


• Northrop Grumman Corporation (The U.S.)


• Raytheon Technologies Corporation (The U.S.)


• Saab AB (Sweden)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• February 2021 - Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) installed the ELTA-sourced Active Electronically Scanning Radar in Jaguar Darin III fighter jets. The Radar ELTA is an advanced fire control radar specially designed for air-to-air attack and provides solid-state active electronically scanning array technology. This technology is enabling the Radar to achieve a long detection target with high precision.


• December 2020 - The U.S. Army had signed a contract with Kuwait defense forces with LONGBOW Limited Liability Company's help to provide AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for Kuwait defense forces. The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation. The Apache helicopter is equipped with AN/ASQ-170(V) technologically advanced target acquisition radar capacity, eye-sights, and night vision sensor units with fire control radars.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Airborne Fire Control Radar Market

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The global airborne fire control radar market research report is providing an in-depth analysis of the market and majorly focusing on critical factors such as analysis of the market by platform, by frequency band, by application, and by region. The report also exhibits the COVID-19 global impact on the defense industry and the fire control radar product's research ideology. The AFCR report offers the latest market trends in the market and highlights vital industry developments. Moreover, the report provides several factors contributing to the market's growth during the forecast period.

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