Airborne Warning and Control System Market Growth Size [2031]

Report Description

Airborne Warning and Control System Market Outlook 2031

The global airborne warning and control system market size was USD 4.77 Bn in 2022 and is likely to reach USD 11.16 Bn by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 9.9% during 2023–2031. The market growth is attributed to the growing adoption of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for military purposes and increasing defense spending for rapid advancements in military technologies.

Increasing threats and security concerns across the globe are anticipated to boost the airborne warning and control system market. Rising geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts drive the demand for advanced defense capabilities, including airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), to enhance their situational awareness, command, and control capabilities to address potential threats.

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Airborne warning and control systems are advanced, long-range surveillance radar and control centers employed in air defense by utilizing an airborne radar system integrated into an aircraft. Their main purpose is to detect distant targets, such as aircraft, missiles, ships, and vehicles.

The aircraft serves as a command-and-control center, where the gathered information is processed, analyzed, and communicated to friendly forces. This facilitates the coordination of air defense operations and allows for effective decision-making.

The market report finds that the COVID-19 pandemic hampered the airborne warning and control system market. The pandemic disrupted the global supply chains, which affected the production and delivery of complex defense systems. Delays in the supply chain impacted the delivery timelines of AWACS and related technologies.

Governments across the globe faced economic challenges, due to the pandemic, as it diverted resources to healthcare and economic recovery efforts. This led to budget constraints and reduced defense spending.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Airborne Warning and Control System Market

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to boost the revenue of the market players present in the airborne warning and control system market. AI algorithms, including machine learning, improve the processing and analysis of data collected by AWACS.

AI algorithms are applied to automate the recognition and classification of targets detected by the AWACS radar system. This automation provides situational awareness, accelerates decision-making processes, and reduces the cognitive load on human operators.

• In July 2020, Skydio Inc. introduced the Skydio X2, an AI-equipped drone. The drone is designed for situational awareness, security patrol, and asset assessment, which further expands the landscape of advanced airborne surveillance solutions.

Airborne Warning and Control System Market Dynamics

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Major Drivers

Rising number of illicit activities and geopolitical conflicts drive the market. Illicit activities, such as smuggling, illegal border crossings, and drug trafficking, often occur in remote or challenging landscapes.

AWACS platforms provide enhanced surveillance capabilities by allowing authorities to monitor these areas effectively. Geopolitical conflicts and illicit activities involve the movement of unauthorized aircraft, vessels, or ground vehicles. However, AWACS with its early warning radar systems enables the early detection of such threats by providing authorities with crucial response time.

Existing Restraints

High development and manufacturing costs hamper the market. The development and manufacturing of advanced radar systems, electronic components, and sophisticated avionics contribute to the overall cost of an AWACS platform. The intricate nature of these technologies requires high research and development efforts, thereby boosting cost.

Emerging Opportunities

Growing development of an advanced radar system creates lucrative opportunities in the market. Advanced radar systems offer extended detection ranges while allowing AWACS platforms to identify and track targets at wide distances.

This improvement in range enhances the early warning capability by providing extra time for strategic decision-making. Advanced radar systems often incorporate improved data fusion and processing capabilities. This allows for the integration of data from multiple sensors by providing an accurate picture of the battlespace.

Scope of the Airborne Warning and Control System Market Report

The market report includes an assessment of the market trends, segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.

Market Segment Insights

Product Type Segment Analysis

Based on product type, the airborne warning and control system market is divided into energy weapons, identification friend or foe (IFF) systems, infrared countermeasures, jammers, electronic counter countermeasure systems, missile approach warning systems, radar warning receivers, laser warning systems, and self-protection EW suites.

The self-protection EW suites segment is expected to hold a large share of the market during the projection period, as it provides a comprehensive defense mechanism.

Self-protection EW Suites typically integrate multiple electronic warfare technologies, including radar warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, infrared countermeasures, and jammers. This comprehensive approach makes them a key component in providing all-around defense for AWACS platforms.

The radar warning receivers segment is expected to grow at a significant pace in the coming years, as it provides early threat detection and situational awareness. Radar warning receivers (RWR) are designed to detect and identify radar signals produced by potential threats, including enemy aircraft, missiles, or surface-based radar systems. Early detection allows for timely response and enhances the overall survivability of the AWACS platform.

RWR systems provide situational awareness of AWACS crews by providing real-time information about the electromagnetic environment. This information further helps the crew to assess the threat landscape and make informed decisions.

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Platform Segment Analysis

On the basis of platform, the global market is segregated into business jets, military aircraft, military helicopters, commercial aircraft, and UAVs. The military aircraft segment is projected to register a high CAGR during the forecast period, due to the rising threats to national security and growing demand for advanced surveillance capabilities.

Emerging economies encounter boosting threats, such as terrorist activities, geopolitical tensions, and unauthorized border crossing, among changing global security. Advanced surveillance capabilities are essential for military forces to effectively mitigate these threats by enabling real-time situational awareness and early warning systems.

The growing advanced technology increased the demand for sophisticated surveillance capabilities to enhance military operations. This, in turn, boosts the adoption of radar systems and communication systems, thus fueling the market.

Application Segment Analysis

On the basis of application, the airborne warning and control system market is segmented into communications, surveillance, battle management, and others. The surveillance segment is anticipated to register a robust growth rate during the assessment period, as it provides completed threat monitoring and offers early warning functionality.

Surveillance capabilities are at the core of AWACS, allowing for the comprehensive monitoring of airspace and potential threats. These systems are equipped with sensors, including radar and other surveillance technologies, to detect and track a wide range of targets, such as missiles, aircraft, and ground vehicles. Surveillance is essential for providing early warning to military forces by offering valuable time for decision-making and response.

Furthermore, manufacturers are developing novel surveillance systems to meet the overall growing demand, which contributes to the market growth. For instance,

• In March 2021, HENSOLDT, the sensor manufacturer, announced the successful completion of the factory acceptance test for their advanced PrecISR airborne multi-mission surveillance radar.

The communication segment is anticipated to hold a major share of the market, as it enhances situational awareness and provides commands and control functionality. AWACS heavily relies on communication capabilities to gather and disseminate real-time information about the aerial environment. Communication plays a pivotal role in facilitating seamless data exchange between the aircraft and ground stations by enabling improved situational awareness for operators.

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Regional Outlook

In terms of region, the global airborne warning and control system market is classified as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the market during the projection period, due to the growing technological innovation and rising military alliances in the region.

North America is recognized for technological innovation in defense and aerospace. The region is home to prominent defense contractors and aerospace companies that continually invest in research and development to enhance AWACS capabilities. Furthermore, North America has strong military alliances, such as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), where member countries collaborate on defense capabilities.

The airborne warning and control system market in Asia Pacific is projected to expand at a considerable CAGR in the coming year, owing to the increasing geopolitical tensions and the growing modernization of military forces. The region has experienced geopolitical tensions, particularly in areas, such as the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

Emerging economies in this region investing in advanced AWACS capabilities to enhance their surveillance and early warning systems by ensuring better awareness in case of potential threats. Furthermore, the defense and military sector in Asia Pacific is upgrading and expanding airborne surveillance capabilities through AWACS, as it is a crucial component of military modernization.

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