Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market Growth, Share, Size, Trends and Forecast (2024 - 2030)

Recent Developments

• October 2023: DARPA, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, issued a broad agency announcement for the INSPIRED project, aiming to develop compact optical sensors using squeezed light technology. These sensors are intended to have reduced size, weight, and power consumption while achieving sensitivity below the quantum-shot noise limit.

• June 2022: Excelitas Technologies Corp. showcased its latest thermal imaging and camera technologies for military applications at the Close Combat Symposium. Among the products featured was the DRAGON-S12 Non-Cooled Thermal Attachment Sniper Sight, equipped with a 60Hz uncooled thermal sensor and a near-silent aperture. Another highlight was the PHOENIX-S product, designed for ground-based sniper missions, boasting early target detection, recognition, and identification capabilities even in low-light conditions.

• May 2022: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) secured a contract to supply its MiniPOP electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems to the Philippine Navy's patrol vessels. The MiniPOP system integrates four sensors into a single optical payload, including a MWIR thermal imager, an HD-CMOS day color camera, a laser rangefinder, and an IR laser pointer.

• February 2023: Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded the initial production and operations contract for the Next Generation Handheld Targeting System (NGHTS) by the US Marine Corps. NGHTS is a portable targeting system that offers high-precision targeting capabilities, particularly useful in GPS-denied environments.

• July 2022: Lockheed Martin Corporation procured 22 360-degree electro-optical sensor systems from Raytheon Technologies Corporation for the US F-35 joint strike fighter under a USD 22.6 million contract. These systems enhance situational awareness by providing real-time imagery from six IR cameras to the pilot's helmet-mounted display.

• October 2022: L3Harris Technologies Inc. delivered its WESCAM MX-25D imaging system as part of the US Air Force Special Operations Command's AC-130J Ghostrider modernization program. This electro-optical/infrared system serves as the primary imaging asset for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, contributing to enhanced operational capabilities.

This report extensively covers different segments of Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market and provides an in depth analysis (including revenue analysis for both historic and forecast periods) for all the market segments. In this report, the analysis for every market segment is substantiated with relevant data points and, insights that are generated from analysis of these data points (data trends and patterns).

The Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market comprises advanced technologies designed for defense and security applications, providing crucial capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, and threat detection. These systems utilize electro-optical and infrared sensors to detect and track objects, personnel, and vehicles across various operational environments. The market is segmented based on the platform of deployment, including air-based, land-based, and sea-based platforms, reflecting the diverse operational requirements and mission profiles of military forces worldwide.

The demand for military electro-optical and infrared systems is driven by the growing complexity of modern warfare scenarios, evolving security threats, and the increasing adoption of unmanned systems across defense organizations worldwide. As military forces seek to enhance their situational awareness, operational effectiveness, and force protection capabilities, the market for EOIR systems continues to witness steady growth and technological innovation. Additionally, advancements in sensor technology, image processing algorithms, and data fusion capabilities are driving the development of next-generation EOIR systems with improved performance, reliability, and interoperability, further fueling market expansion.

Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Segment Analysis

In this report, the Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market has been segmented by Platform (Air-based, Land-based, and Sea-based) and Geography.

Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market, Segmentation by Platform

The Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market has been segmented by Platform into Air-based, Land-based, and Sea-based.

Air-based platforms represent a crucial segment within the market, incorporating a range of aircraft equipped with electro-optical and infrared systems. These platforms include fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and aerostats. Airborne EOIR systems are instrumental in conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, providing military forces with vital situational awareness and target acquisition capabilities.

Land-based platforms constitute another significant segment, comprising ground vehicles, soldier-worn devices, and stationary installations integrated with electro-optical and infrared sensors. These systems are employed for a variety of applications, including border security, perimeter surveillance, force protection, and counterinsurgency operations. Land-based EOIR systems play a crucial role in enhancing the detection, identification, and tracking of potential threats in terrestrial environments.

Sea-based platforms form a vital component of the market, encompassing surface vessels, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft equipped with electro-optical and infrared systems. These platforms are essential for conducting maritime surveillance, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Sea-based EOIR systems contribute significantly to naval operations by facilitating long-range detection, tracking, and engagement of surface and subsurface targets.

Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market, Segmentation by Geography

In this report, the Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market has been segmented by Geography into five regions; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market Share (%), by Geographical Region, 2023

North America stands as a prominent region in the market, attributed to the substantial defense budgets allocated by countries like the United States and Canada. The presence of leading defense contractors and technological advancements in electro-optical and infrared systems bolster the market growth in this region.

Europe also holds a significant share in the global market, with countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany investing in modernizing their defense capabilities. The region witnesses robust demand for EOIR systems for military applications, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition.

The Asia Pacific region emerges as a lucrative market for military electro-optical and infrared systems, driven by increasing defense spending in countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Rising territorial disputes, geopolitical tensions, and the need for enhancing military capabilities fuel the demand for advanced EOIR technologies in this region.

The Middle East and Africa region exhibit substantial growth opportunities in the military EOIR systems market, propelled by ongoing conflicts, regional instability, and the proliferation of asymmetric threats. Countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, are investing in modernizing their defense forces, driving the adoption of advanced electro-optical and infrared systems.

Latin America represents a growing market for military EOIR systems, with countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina focusing on enhancing their defense capabilities.

This report provides an in depth analysis of various factors that impact the dynamics of Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market. These factors include; Market Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities.

Drivers:

• Increasing Geopolitical Tensions
• Rising Demand for ISR Capabilities
• Military Modernization Initiatives
• Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency Operations

• Rapid Growth in Unmanned Systems - One of the primary drivers fueling the rapid growth in unmanned systems is the increasing demand for advanced and autonomous capabilities in military operations. Unmanned systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs), offer unique advantages such as extended endurance, reduced risk to human personnel, and enhanced situational awareness. These systems play a crucial role in various military applications, including reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and strike missions, contributing to operational efficiency and mission effectiveness. The proliferation of unmanned systems reflects the growing reliance on autonomous technologies to augment the capabilities of manned platforms and address evolving security challenges.

  Additionally, advancements in technology have led to the development of more sophisticated and versatile unmanned systems with enhanced capabilities and functionalities. Improved sensor technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, and communication systems enable unmanned systems to operate autonomously, adapt to dynamic environments, and perform complex missions with higher precision and reliability. As military organizations worldwide prioritize modernization efforts and invest in unmanned systems, the market for unmanned platforms and associated technologies continues to expand rapidly, driven by the need for innovative solutions to address emerging threats and operational requirements.
  

Restraints:

• Complex Integration Challenges
• Export Controls and Regulations
• Limited Operational Range and Endurance
• Interoperability Issues

• Vulnerability to Electronic Warfare - Despite their numerous advantages, unmanned systems are vulnerable to electronic warfare (EW) threats, posing significant challenges to their operational effectiveness and survivability. Electronic warfare encompasses a range of offensive and defensive measures aimed at disrupting, deceiving, or denying enemy electronic systems and communications. Unmanned systems rely heavily on electronic sensors, communication links, and navigation systems, making them susceptible to EW attacks such as jamming, spoofing, and cyber intrusions. These attacks can disrupt command and control communications, compromise data integrity, and degrade the performance of unmanned systems, thereby limiting their operational capabilities and mission success rates.

  The increasing sophistication and proliferation of EW technologies pose evolving threats to unmanned systems across land, sea, and air domains. Adversaries continue to develop advanced EW capabilities to exploit vulnerabilities in unmanned platforms and exploit weaknesses in their electronic systems. As a result, defense organizations must invest in countermeasures and mitigation strategies to enhance the resilience of unmanned systems against EW threats. Developing robust cybersecurity measures, implementing frequency-hopping techniques, and incorporating redundancy and diversity in communication links are essential steps to mitigate the vulnerabilities of unmanned systems to electronic warfare and safeguard their operational integrity and effectiveness.
  

Opportunities:

• Investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
• Expansion of EO/IR System Applications
• Focus on Export Market Expansion
• Investment in Next-Generation EO/IR Technologies

• Focus on Miniaturization and Lightweight Solutions - In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on miniaturization and lightweight solutions in military electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) systems, presenting significant opportunities for innovation and market growth. Miniaturization involves the development of compact and lightweight EO/IR systems that offer enhanced mobility, portability, and versatility for military applications. These systems are designed to be integrated into various platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), soldier-worn devices, and ground vehicles, without compromising performance or functionality.

  The demand for miniaturized and lightweight EO/IR systems is driven by several factors, including the need for increased maneuverability and agility in modern warfare scenarios. Compact and lightweight systems enable military personnel to carry and deploy EO/IR capabilities more effectively, enhancing situational awareness and operational effectiveness in diverse environments. Advancements in materials science, optics, and electronics have facilitated the development of innovative solutions that achieve high performance levels while minimizing size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP), making them ideal for integration into constrained platforms and resource-limited environments.
  

Key players in Global Military Electro-optical and Infrared Systems Market include,

• BAE Systems plc
• Elbit Systems Ltd.
• Teledyne FLIR LLC
• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
• L3Harris Technologies Inc.
• Leonardo S.p.A
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Raytheon Technologies Corporation
• Rheinmetall AG
• Saab AB
• THALES
• Ultra Electronics Holdings

In this report, the profile of each market player provides following information:

• Company Overview and Product Portfolio
• Key Developments
• Financial Overview
• Strategies
• Company SWOT Analysis