Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Size and Outlook 2030

Report Description

Forecast Period	2026-2030
Market Size (2024)	USD 2.75 Billion
CAGR (2025-2030)	5.41%
Fastest Growing Segment	UAVs
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2030)	USD 3.77 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market, valued at USD 2.75 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 5.41% to reach USD 3.77 Billion by 2030. An airborne fire control radar (AFCR) is a specialized radar system integrated into aircraft, designed to detect, track, and provide precise targeting information for onboard weapon systems against both aerial and ground threats. The market's expansion is primarily driven by increasing global military and defense expenditures, ongoing modernization initiatives for military aircraft fleets, and escalating geopolitical tensions necessitating enhanced aerial surveillance and precision strike capabilities. Furthermore, continuous technological advancements, particularly in Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) systems, significantly propel market growth.

According to the European Defence Agency (EDA), in 2023, defence investments by European Union Member States reached a record €72 billion, encompassing the procurement of new equipment, reflecting a robust impetus for advanced defence systems. However, a significant challenge impeding market expansion is the substantial research, development, and integration costs associated with these sophisticated systems, alongside stringent export control regulations that can restrict global market access.

Key Market Drivers

Increased global defense budgets and military modernization initiatives are a primary driving force for the Airborne Fire Control Radar market. Nations are allocating substantial resources to upgrade defense capabilities, acquiring advanced combat aircraft and integrated systems. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in April 2024, total global military expenditure reached $2443 billion in 2023, an increase of 6.8 percent in real terms from 2022, underscoring a robust environment for defense procurement. Escalating geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts further accelerate market expansion. Global instabilities necessitate superior aerial surveillance and precision strike capabilities. According to Global News, in April 2025, worldwide military expenditure saw its steepest rise in 2024 since the Cold War, reaching $2.7 trillion, driven by wars and rising tensions. Military budgets drastically grew in the Middle East to an estimated $243 billion, an increase of 15 percent from 2023. This directly increases demand for high-performance airborne fire control radars.

The continuous investment in modernizing aerial platforms underpins the sustained demand for advanced airborne fire control radars. For example, Northrop Grumman, in April 2025, received a $14 million contract modification to continue work on Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems for U. S. Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft, bringing the total value of the multi-year contract to more than $1.68 billion. This significant commitment to upgrading combat fleets demonstrates the critical role of sophisticated radar technology for enhanced operational effectiveness and extended aircraft service life. Such procurements highlight the ongoing need for advanced sensor capabilities improving situational awareness and multi-target engagement.

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Key Market Challenges

Substantial research, development, and integration costs present a significant impediment to the expansion of the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market. The extensive financial investment required for the conceptualization, design, rigorous testing, and seamless integration of these advanced radar systems into aircraft platforms establishes considerable financial barriers. These high costs directly limit the number of nations or defense organizations capable of funding either the development or procurement of such technology, thereby restricting the overall customer base and market penetration.

The specialized nature of airborne fire control radar necessitates prolonged and capital-intensive development cycles, encompassing stringent regulatory compliance and certification processes essential for operational reliability and combat effectiveness. These elevated expenditure levels strain defense budgets, especially in regions with more constrained financial resources, consequently slowing the rate of global adoption. For instance, according to the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), combined European investment in defence research and development amounted to approximately €14.2 billion in 2023. Such substantial R&D investments illustrate the considerable financial burden associated with bringing new airborne radar capabilities to market, which inherently constrains growth as fewer programs can be initiated and funded globally.

Key Market Trends

The integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) is a significant trend, enhancing airborne fire control radar systems through improved analytical capabilities and operational autonomy. These algorithms efficiently process vast data, leading to superior target detection, classification, and tracking, even in complex environments. The U. S. Department of Defense's fiscal year 2024 request for approximately US$1.8 billion for AI applications, a 63.6% increase from FY23, underscores this growing importance. This integration streamlines mission planning and reduces operator workload. For example, Raytheon, an RTX subsidiary, announced in February 2025 the successful flight testing of its Cognitive Algorithm Deployment System (CADS) in December 2024, an AI/ML-powered radar warning receiver for fourth-generation fighter jets, demonstrating enhanced threat prioritization. This drives demand for sophisticated processing hardware and software.

Specialized radar solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) constitute a distinct market trend, addressing unique operational demands and stringent size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. As UAVs increasingly perform complex surveillance and combat roles, critical needs exist for compact, efficient, and high-performance radar systems tailored to their missions. This segment evolves within the broader U. S. aerospace and defense industry, which reported $995 billion in combined sales in 2024, indicating a substantial market for such innovations. These solutions often incorporate miniaturized components and advanced signal processing. Notably, Northrop Grumman secured a $543 million contract modification in October 2023 for MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems, including multi-sensor upgrades, highlighting investment in advanced sensor capabilities for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance on unmanned platforms. This trend fosters advancements in lightweight radar technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) segment represents the fastest-growing area within the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market. This accelerated growth stems from the increasing integration of UAVs into diverse military and civil applications requiring sophisticated surveillance and precision targeting capabilities. Equipped with advanced airborne fire control radars, UAVs deliver critical real-time situational awareness and enhance operational effectiveness in challenging environments, significantly reducing risks to personnel. The inherent need for compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient radar systems tailored for these unmanned platforms further propels market expansion, facilitating their deployment for reconnaissance, target detection, and engagement across a broad spectrum of missions.

Regional Insights

North America leads the global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market due to robust defense spending and continuous technological advancements, primarily driven by the United States. The region benefits from a mature manufacturing and technology base, fostering the development and integration of advanced radar systems. Key defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies, supported by substantial investments from the U. S. Department of Defense, play a pivotal role in this dominance through extensive research and development initiatives. Furthermore, ongoing military modernization programs, including those for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), consistently fuel demand for sophisticated airborne fire control radar capabilities, ensuring sustained market leadership for the region.

Recent Developments

In May 2025, Raytheon, an RTX business, successfully completed the first flight test of its new PhantomStrike radar in Ontario, California. This next-generation, fully air-cooled fire control radar demonstrated its capability by accurately tracking airborne targets and mapping terrain. A key advancement, PhantomStrike is designed for long-range threat detection and offers superior performance through a faster digital beam and enhanced jamming resistance, while weighing approximately half of a modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. This breakthrough in product development by Raytheon significantly impacts the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market by offering advanced, lighter, and more cost-effective solutions for various airborne platforms.

In December 2024, Lockheed Martin initiated low-rate initial production of its Sentinel A4 air and missile defense radar system, with initial deliveries to the U.S. Army planned for late 2025. This advanced radar, designed as a replacement for the A3 variant, features significantly increased range and enhanced multi-mission capabilities. The Sentinel A4 is a fully digital, medium-range radar system capable of simultaneously detecting, identifying, and tracking various airborne threats, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned systems, cruise missiles, and projectiles. This production milestone underscores the company's commitment to modernizing airborne fire control and defense systems, directly contributing to advancements in the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market.

In August 2024, Northrop Grumman announced the successful inaugural flight of its Electronically-Scanned Multifunction Reconfigurable Integrated Sensor (EMRIS) aboard a U.S. military aircraft. This breakthrough research leverages advanced digital Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, enabling the sensor to perform multiple functions concurrently, including radar operations, electronic warfare, and communications. The successful flight test marks a significant step towards deploying new radar capabilities that will allow future aircraft to counter a wider range of threats and adapt rapidly to evolving operational requirements. This innovation by Northrop Grumman directly contributes to the technological advancements within the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market.

In January 2024, Leonardo confirmed that its new European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mark 2 radar had been integrated into a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, in preparation for initial flight trials expected within the same year. Developed in collaboration with BAE Systems for the UK Royal Air Force, this advanced radar features an innovative multi-functional array (MFA). The ECRS Mark 2 is engineered to perform traditional radar functions such as search and targeting, alongside sophisticated electronic warfare tasks. This product development by Leonardo enhances the Royal Air Force's airborne fire control capabilities and represents a significant upgrade within the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market.

Key Market Players

HENSOLDT AG
Rheinmetall AG
SRC, Inc.
Thales Group
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
RTX Corporation

By Platform	By Frequency	By Application	By Region
Fighter Jets Combat Helicopter Special Mission Aircraft UAVs	L & S-band X-band KU/K/KA band	Air to Sea Air to Air Air to Ground	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Airborne Fire Control Radar Market, By Platform:

o Fighter Jets

o Combat Helicopter

o Special Mission Aircraft

o UAVs

Airborne Fire Control Radar Market, By Frequency:

o L & S-band

o X-band

o KU/K/KA band

Airborne Fire Control Radar Market, By Application:

o Air to Sea

o Air to Air

o Air to Ground

Airborne Fire Control Radar Market, By Region:

o North America

§ United States

§ Canada

§ Mexico

o Europe

§ France

§ United Kingdom

§ Italy

§ Germany

§ Spain

o Asia Pacific

§ China

§ India

§ Japan

§ Australia

§ South Korea

o South America

§ Brazil

§ Argentina

§ Colombia

o Middle East & Africa

§ South Africa

§ Saudi Arabia

§ UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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Table of content

1. Product Overview

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Scope of the Market

1.2.1. Markets Covered

1.2.2. Years Considered for Study

1.2.3. Key Market Segmentations

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Objective of the Study

2.2. Baseline Methodology

2.3. Key Industry Partners

2.4. Major Association and Secondary Sources

2.5. Forecasting Methodology

2.6. Data Triangulation & Validation

2.7. Assumptions and Limitations

3. Executive Summary

3.1. Overview of the Market

3.2. Overview of Key Market Segmentations

3.3. Overview of Key Market Players

3.4. Overview of Key Regions/Countries

3.5. Overview of Market Drivers, Challenges, Trends

4. Voice of Customer

5. Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Platform (Fighter Jets, Combat Helicopter, Special Mission Aircraft, UAVs)

5.2.2. By Frequency (L & S-band, X-band, KU/K/KA band)

5.2.3. By Application (Air to Sea, Air to Air, Air to Ground)

5.2.4. By Region

5.2.5. By Company (2024)

5.3. Market Map

6. North America Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Platform

6.2.2. By Frequency

6.2.3. By Application

6.2.4. By Country

6.3. North America: Country Analysis

6.3.1. United States Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

6.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.1.1.1. By Value

6.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.1.2.1. By Platform

6.3.1.2.2. By Frequency

6.3.1.2.3. By Application

6.3.2. Canada Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

6.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.2.1.1. By Value

6.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.2.2.1. By Platform

6.3.2.2.2. By Frequency

6.3.2.2.3. By Application

6.3.3. Mexico Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

6.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.3.1.1. By Value

6.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.3.2.1. By Platform

6.3.3.2.2. By Frequency

6.3.3.2.3. By Application

7. Europe Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Platform

7.2.2. By Frequency

7.2.3. By Application

7.2.4. By Country

7.3. Europe: Country Analysis

7.3.1. Germany Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

7.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.1.1.1. By Value

7.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.1.2.1. By Platform

7.3.1.2.2. By Frequency

7.3.1.2.3. By Application

7.3.2. France Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

7.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.2.1.1. By Value

7.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.2.2.1. By Platform

7.3.2.2.2. By Frequency

7.3.2.2.3. By Application

7.3.3. United Kingdom Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

7.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.3.1.1. By Value

7.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.3.2.1. By Platform

7.3.3.2.2. By Frequency

7.3.3.2.3. By Application

7.3.4. Italy Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

7.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.4.1.1. By Value

7.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.4.2.1. By Platform

7.3.4.2.2. By Frequency

7.3.4.2.3. By Application

7.3.5. Spain Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

7.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.5.1.1. By Value

7.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.5.2.1. By Platform

7.3.5.2.2. By Frequency

7.3.5.2.3. By Application

8. Asia Pacific Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.1.1. By Value

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.2.1. By Platform

8.2.2. By Frequency

8.2.3. By Application

8.2.4. By Country

8.3. Asia Pacific: Country Analysis

8.3.1. China Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

8.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.1.1.1. By Value

8.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.1.2.1. By Platform

8.3.1.2.2. By Frequency

8.3.1.2.3. By Application

8.3.2. India Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

8.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.2.1.1. By Value

8.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.2.2.1. By Platform

8.3.2.2.2. By Frequency

8.3.2.2.3. By Application

8.3.3. Japan Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

8.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.3.1.1. By Value

8.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.3.2.1. By Platform

8.3.3.2.2. By Frequency

8.3.3.2.3. By Application

8.3.4. South Korea Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

8.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.4.1.1. By Value

8.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.4.2.1. By Platform

8.3.4.2.2. By Frequency

8.3.4.2.3. By Application

8.3.5. Australia Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

8.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.5.1.1. By Value

8.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.5.2.1. By Platform

8.3.5.2.2. By Frequency

8.3.5.2.3. By Application

9. Middle East & Africa Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.1.1. By Value

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.2.1. By Platform

9.2.2. By Frequency

9.2.3. By Application

9.2.4. By Country

9.3. Middle East & Africa: Country Analysis

9.3.1. Saudi Arabia Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

9.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.1.1.1. By Value

9.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.1.2.1. By Platform

9.3.1.2.2. By Frequency

9.3.1.2.3. By Application

9.3.2. UAE Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

9.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.2.1.1. By Value

9.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.2.2.1. By Platform

9.3.2.2.2. By Frequency

9.3.2.2.3. By Application

9.3.3. South Africa Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

9.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.3.1.1. By Value

9.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.3.2.1. By Platform

9.3.3.2.2. By Frequency

9.3.3.2.3. By Application

10. South America Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.1.1. By Value

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.2.1. By Platform

10.2.2. By Frequency

10.2.3. By Application

10.2.4. By Country

10.3. South America: Country Analysis

10.3.1. Brazil Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

10.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.1.1.1. By Value

10.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.1.2.1. By Platform

10.3.1.2.2. By Frequency

10.3.1.2.3. By Application

10.3.2. Colombia Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

10.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.2.1.1. By Value

10.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.2.2.1. By Platform

10.3.2.2.2. By Frequency

10.3.2.2.3. By Application

10.3.3. Argentina Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Outlook

10.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.3.1.1. By Value

10.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.3.2.1. By Platform

10.3.3.2.2. By Frequency

10.3.3.2.3. By Application

11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers

11.2. Challenges

12. Market Trends & Developments

12.1. Merger & Acquisition (If Any)

12.2. Product Launches (If Any)

12.3. Recent Developments

13. Global Airborne Fire Control Radar Market: SWOT Analysis

14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

14.1. Competition in the Industry

14.2. Potential of New Entrants

14.3. Power of Suppliers

14.4. Power of Customers

14.5. Threat of Substitute Products

15. Competitive Landscape

15.1. HENSOLDT AG

15.1.1. Business Overview

15.1.2. Products & Services

15.1.3. Recent Developments

15.1.4. Key Personnel

15.1.5. SWOT Analysis

15.2. Rheinmetall AG

15.3. SRC, Inc.

15.4. Thales Group

15.5. Northrop Grumman Corporation

15.6. Lockheed Martin Corporation

15.7. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.

15.8. RTX Corporation

16. Strategic Recommendations

17. About Us & Disclaimer

Report Description

Table of content

Figures and Tables

Frequently asked questions

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