Military Antenna Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Frequency (High, Ultra-High, Super High, and Extremely High Frequency), By Type (Dipole, Aperture, Travelling Wave, Loop, and Array Antenna), By Platform (Airborne, Marine, and Ground), By Application (Communication, Surveillance, SATCOM, Electronic Warfare, and Telemetry), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global military antenna market size was USD 3.25 billion in 2020. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with military antennas witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a considerable decline of -33.6% in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 3.32 billion in 2021 to USD 6.28 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 9.52% 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.

The antenna is the device used to convert radio frequency into alternating current with the help of a transducer. There has been a huge demand for antennas across airborne, marine, and ground military operations from countries such as the U.S., China, and India. The companies and government focus on airborne applications to strengthen their military forces with technologically advanced antennas.

Limited Defense Expenditure amid COVID-19 to Hamper Growth

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to more than 100 countries worldwide. The COVID-19 has severely impacted the electronics industry. The demand reduction has changed the dynamic of this industry. The companies are planning to launch an e-commerce platform to simplify the distribution network. Countries across the globe prioritize their defense expenditure to the healthcare industry to build the required infrastructure facilities to tackle the growing coronavirus cases.

• South Korea cuts USD 750 million from the 2020 defense allocation, while the Indian government reduced its defense budget by approximately 40% and diverted it to the healthcare sector.


• It is expected that post-impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be drastic defense budget cuts from the developed nations such as the U.S., The U.K, Russia, China, and India.


• According to an analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), governments worldwide spent USD 1.9 trillion in defense last year. However, this would not be the case in the year 2021.

LATEST TRENDS

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Development of Smart Antennas to Promote Growth

A smart antenna system integrates multiple antennas with signal processing algorithms to automatically optimize its reception pattern and radiation in response to the signal environment. These are categorized as adaptive array antennas or switched beam antennas.

Smart antennas enhance the quality of wireless communication by minimizing errors and managing the incoming signals. Moreover, it allows data signal customization as per the requirement for military troops, which improves operational efficiency. The need for fast and high-frequency wavelengths with better field monitoring capabilities and communication systems is expected to propel the global military antenna market growth.

DRIVING FACTORS

Growing Transnational Disputes to Aid Growth

The rising transnational disputes on the borders have led the government of countries such as India and China to strengthen their security, surveillance, and tracking capabilities. This led to an increase in the demand for advanced antennas. In the current digital era, aspects such as reliability, efficiency, and real-time communications are vital to succeed in network-centric operations. Therefore, advanced antenna technology is deployed for security & surveillance purposes, which is expected to propel the growth of the market. Moreover, due to the rising disputes and terrorist activities, governments across several countries have increased their defense budgets and are focused on modernizing and strengthening their defense capabilities.

The increasing defense budgets are anticipated to augment market growth. There has been a significant rise in the defense budget in recent years. As stated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the global military expenditure has increased by 3.6% in 2019 compared to 2018. This rising defense budget for modernization programs is expected to impact market growth positively.

Paradigm Shift from Conventional to Technologically Advanced Military Equipment to Augment Growth

Change in warfare and battlefield management and the need for modernization of conventional military equipment have increased. Modernization of defense systems is necessary to keep pace with the technological progress during the battlefield. This demand for up-gradation is expected to drive the market's growth. Modernization is aimed at improving quality, closing the capability gap, and decreasing the overall cost. It has been observed that there has been a rise in major contracts between key defense companies and the U.S. government for up-gradation of military systems such as tactical radar systems, movable tactics, and light weapons, advanced military antennas, and others. Moreover, there has been a rise in the usage of advanced antennas for defense applications, which is expected to fuel the growth of the market.

Many countries are focused on upgrading their defense forces; for instance, in 2019, India planned to spend USD 130 Billion in the next 5-7 years to modernize its armed forces and enhance its combat capabilities. The plan involves the procurement of surveillance equipment, air defense system, drones, warships, submarines, missiles, and others, which is predicted to boost the market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Cost Associated with Research and Development (R&D) Of Military Antenna

The military antennas are used to address most communication & surveillance applications, electronic warfare, and others. With increasing technological development in defense equipment, the antenna needs to be developed for compatibility with other equipment. However, high costs are involved in the R&D of the antenna technology due to complexity in the design and development. The development, integration of systems across the platforms, and maintenance of these systems are costly. Hence, market growth is anticipated to affect these factors negatively.

SEGMENTATION

By Frequency Analysis

Super-High Frequency to Grow at Faster Pace Due to Rising Demand for Space-based Applications

Based on frequency, the market for military antenna includes high frequency, ultra-high frequency, super high frequency, and extremely high frequency.

The high-frequency segment held a dominant share of the market in 2020. The dominance is due to a comparatively lower cost of the system based on high-frequency bands and its high efficiency in military applications such as surveillance and combat operations.

The super-high frequency segment is projected to register a higher CAGR by 2028 due to its space-based and weather forecasting applications. Moreover, the rise in satellite-based systems and the growing adoption of 5G-based radar systems will boost the demand for military antennas.

By Type Analysis

Array Antenna Segment to Dominate Owing to Growing Demand for Defense Radar Applications

Based on type, the market is segmented into dipole antenna, aperture antenna, traveling wave antenna, loop antenna, and array antenna.

The dipole antenna segment accounted for the largest military antenna market share in 2020. This type of antenna is primarily used in most radar systems for military applications.

The array antenna segment is anticipated to project a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to increased remote sensing and defense radar applications. In May 2020, Raytheon Technologies Corporation signed a contract of USD 238 million by the U.S. Navy. Through this contract, the company will supply the navy planar array antenna to the U.S. navy.

By Platform Analysis

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Airborne Segment to Register a Higher CAGR

In terms of platform, the market segments include airborne, marine, and ground.

The ground segment is expected to hold a dominant share in the market during the forecast period. The dominance is attributable to the increase in border security issues among the countries and the modernization of existing military radar systems with technologically advanced radar systems.

The airborne segment is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing demand for next-generation fighter aircraft with advanced antennas-based systems in the developed and emerging countries.

The marine segment is expected to register a significant growth by the end of the forecast period owing to the rising preference for very high-frequency antennas for submarines and other ships.

By Application Analysis

Rising Demand for Advance Battlefield Operations to Boost Growth of Electronic Warfare Segment

In terms of application, the market is segmented into communication, surveillance, SATCOM, electronic warfare, and telemetry.

The communication segment is expected to have a dominant share in the market during the forecast period. The dominance is due to increased demand for warfare equipment and systems for the military troops during combat operations.

The electronic warfare segment is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to a rise in the demand for up-grading military radar and antenna systems. 

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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The global market is segmented based on regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world.

North America dominated the global military antenna market in 2020. Its market size stood at USD 1.22 billion in 2020. The dominance of this region is attributable to the presence of major players in the market and the rise in defense expenditure by the U.S. government on the modernization of military equipment. For instance, in September 2020, Isotropic Systems and SES Government Solutions signed a contract with the U.S. Army for a multi-beam terminal over SES's O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation to unleash next-generation connectivity across the battlefield.

The market in the Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit healthy growth owing to the increasing defense spending by countries such as China and India. In addition to this, market players in this region focus on heavy investments that will fuel the demand for military antennas.

The market in Europe is expected to grow at a significant CAGR due to the rising awareness of advanced technology-based antenna systems.

South America & the Middle East & Africa will showcase substantial growth due to OEMs and the defense activities market.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Advanced Product Development by Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, and L3 Harris Technologies

The global market is fragmented as several players are involved in designing and developing military application-based antennas. Companies are looking forward to developing a technologically advanced product and establishing a strong partnership with the government of developed and emerging countries.

Currently, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rohde & Schwarz, and L3Harris Technologies Inc., lead the market. These three companies account for around 48% market share in 2020. Other key players such as Cobham Limited, Antcom, and Comrod Communication AS have also entered the market competition with technologically advanced military antennas. These companies adopt new product development and geographic expansion strategies to establish their strong presence in the market, specifically in the U.S. market.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Antcom (California, the U.S.)


• Cobham Limited (Wimborne Minster, The U.K)


• Comrod Communication AS (Stavanger, Norway)


• Eylex Pty Ltd. (New South Wales, Australia)


• Hascall-Denke (Florida, The U.S.)


• L3Harris Technologies Inc. (Florida, The U.S.)


• Lockheed Martin Corporation (Maryland, The U.S.)


• MTI Wireless Edge Ltd. (Israel)


• Raytheon Technologies Corporation (Connecticut, The U.S.)


• Rohde & Schwarz (Munich, Germany)


• TERMA (Aarhus Municipality, Denmark)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• March 2021 – Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions (CAES) signed a contract with the United States Government to develop advanced antenna technology solutions for hypersonic applications.


• January 2021 - Raytheon Intelligence & Space signed a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to build a phased array antenna that will unlock new capabilities in the millimeter-wave as a part of the radiofrequency spectrum for small, mobile platforms such as aircraft. The value of the contract was USD 12.7 million.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The market research report provides a detailed industry analysis and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, product types, and leading product applications. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the developed market over recent years.

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