Home > Aerospace & Defense > Aviation Technology > Airborne Fire Control Radar Market
Based on platform, the market is divided into fighter jets, combat helicopters, UAVs, and others. The fighter jets segment dominated the global market with a share of over 30% in 2023. Many countries are substantially increasing their defense budgets, with focus on enhancing air defense capabilities. This financial investment often prioritizes the procurement of advanced fighter jets, which are central to modern air forces. The expansion of fighter jet fleets necessitates the parallel growth in airborne fire control radars, which are integral to these aircraft's operational effectiveness. Modern fighter jets are designed to be multi-role platforms, capable of performing a wide range of missions including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, maritime surveillance, and reconnaissance. Airborne fire control radars play a crucial role in enabling these multi-role capabilities, driving their demand in fighter aircraft.
Modern air combat operations emphasize network-centric warfare, where fighter jets and other platforms share real-time data for enhanced situational awareness and coordinated operations. Airborne fire control radars are essential for providing accurate targeting and tracking data, enabling effective data fusion and decision-making. The pursuit of stealth technology in fighter jets has led to the need for specialized airborne fire control radars with low-observable characteristics. These radars are designed to minimize detection by enemy air defense systems, providing a significant tactical advantage in combat operations.
Based on application, the market is divided into air to ground, air to air, and air to sea. The air to ground segment is expected to reach a revenue of over USD 2 billion by 2032. Modern warfare demands high precision in ground attacks to minimize collateral damage and increase mission success. Airborne fire control radars play a crucial role in accurately identifying and engaging ground targets, even in cluttered or complex environments. Advancements in radar technology have greatly improved the capability of these systems to differentiate between targets and non-targets, enhancing the effectiveness of precision strikes. Asymmetric warfare, involving conflicts with non-state actors and insurgents, has become more prevalent.
In such scenarios, air to ground radar capabilities are essential for conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted strikes in urban & rural settings where identifying and engaging hostile elements while avoiding civilian casualties is crucial. Air to ground radars not only facilitate targeting and engagement but also significantly contribute to situational awareness by providing detailed terrain mapping and intelligence. This information is vital for planning and executing ground operations, particularly in unfamiliar or hostile territories. Such factors are contributing to the segment growth.
Asia Pacific airborne fire control radar market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7.5% through 2032. Countries across the region, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, are significantly increasing their defense budgets. These investments are often directed toward modernizing and expanding military assets including the acquisition of new fighter jets equipped with state-of-the-art fire control radar systems.
The Asia Pacific region is seeing significant growth in its aerospace capabilities including the expansion of air transport fleets and the enhancement of military aviation. This expansion necessitates advanced navigational and combat radars to ensure the safety and effectiveness of both commercial and military aircraft. Several nations within the region are striving to develop and enhance their domestic defense industries. Programs aimed at building local manufacturing capabilities for military technology often include partnerships and technology transfers involving advanced radar systems. This boosts local industries and reduces dependency on imports.