Military Communication Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By 5 Component (Hardware and Software), By Technology (SATCOM, VHF/UHF/L-Band, HF Communication, and Data Link), By Platform (Airborne, Ground, Naval, and Space), By Application (Command & Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), Situational Awareness, Routine Operations, and Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 32.35 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.14%
Fastest Growing Segment	SATCOM
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 54.67 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Military Communication Market will grow from USD 32.35 Billion in 2025 to USD 54.67 Billion by 2031 at a 9.14% CAGR. The Global Military Communication Market consists of secure systems such as tactical radios, satellite networks, and data links utilized for command and control purposes. The primary drivers supporting growth include rising geopolitical instability and the necessity to replace obsolete legacy equipment with integrated network capabilities. According to the 'Aerospace Industries Association', in '2025', 'the United States aerospace and defense industry generated over 995 billion dollars in total business activity during 2024'. This robust financial performance highlights the sustained funding environment that enables the procurement of advanced communication infrastructures required for modern joint operations.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the issue of radio frequency spectrum congestion. As defense forces rely more on bandwidth intensive assets like unmanned aerial vehicles, the available electromagnetic spectrum becomes overcrowded and risks signal interference. Managing this scarcity requires complex technology which entails high development costs and integration difficulties that may slow the deployment of essential communication upgrades across allied forces.

Key Market Drivers

Rising geopolitical instability and regional conflicts are fundamentally reshaping the Global Military Communication Market, compelling nations to prioritize secure and resilient command networks. As security threats evolve, defense organizations are aggressively expanding their budgets to acquire systems that ensure continuous information flow during active combat operations. This surge in fiscal allocation is directly translating into substantial orders for tactical radios and encrypted data links required for real-time coordination. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 2024, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023', global military spending increased by 6.8 percent to reach an all-time high of 2443 billion dollars. This capital injection is vital for maintaining operational readiness and supporting the rapid deployment of communication assets in volatile regions to counter emerging adversaries.

The modernization of legacy defense communication infrastructures, particularly through the procurement of advanced satellite communication systems, serves as a secondary but equally critical growth determinant. Military forces are transitioning away from terrestrial-only networks toward multi-orbit satellite constellations that offer higher bandwidth and lower latency for data-intensive applications. This shift allows for reliable connectivity in remote areas where traditional infrastructure is absent or compromised. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, March 2024, in the 'Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request', the Space Force proposed a budget of 29.4 billion dollars to strengthen satellite architectures and launch services. Such investments underscore the strategic focus on space-based capabilities to support joint force operations. According to RTX Corporation, in 2024, the company reported a record backlog of 196 billion dollars, reflecting the sustained global demand for integrated defense technologies and communication solutions.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

Radio frequency spectrum congestion presents a formidable obstacle to the expansion of the global military communication sector. As defense forces increasingly integrate bandwidth-intensive assets like unmanned aerial vehicles, the available electromagnetic spectrum has become critically overcrowded. This saturation creates significant risks of signal interference, forcing manufacturers to develop highly complex cognitive radio technologies to ensure reliability. The intricate engineering required to navigate this congested environment substantially elevates development costs, which extends production timelines and delays the delivery of essential upgrades to allied forces.

These technical hurdles directly impact the economic efficiency of the market. While the sector benefits from increased investment, the rising cost of overcoming spectral limitations absorbs a substantial portion of funding, slowing the translation of capital into deployed capability. According to the 'Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe', in '2024', 'total industry turnover increased by 10.1 per cent to 325.7 billion euros'. Despite such strong financial activity, the integration difficulties associated with spectrum management act as a brake on momentum. The necessity for rigorous compatibility testing prevents the rapid deployment of these systems, ultimately restricting the market’s potential for faster growth.

Key Market Trends

The Deployment of 5G and Next-Generation Tactical Cellular Networks is rapidly emerging as a transformative trend, enabling high-speed, low-latency connectivity essential for autonomous systems and data-intensive battlefield applications. Unlike traditional legacy networks, private 5G infrastructures provide the bandwidth necessary to support the massive influx of data from sensors and unmanned assets, facilitating real-time decision-making at the tactical edge. This shift enables defense forces to establish secure, localized networks that are resilient against jamming while supporting advanced capabilities like augmented reality for training and operations. According to Future Technologies Venture, LLC, September 2025, in the press release 'Future Technologies Announces $50 Million in New Contracts with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for Network Modernization', the company secured over 50 million dollars in contracts to deploy private 5G-based connectivity solutions that modernize infrastructure and ensure secure communications for military bases.

Concurrently, the Proliferation of Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Architectures is revolutionizing military interoperability by allowing communication systems to be upgraded via software rather than hardware replacements. This trend addresses the critical need for multi-domain connectivity, as SDRs can dynamically switch between waveforms to communicate with diverse coalition partners and evade enemy detection. By decoupling hardware from software, defense agencies can rapidly deploy new encryption standards and anti-jamming protocols, ensuring their networks remain relevant against evolving electronic warfare threats. According to L3Harris Technologies, January 2025, in the 'US Army Awards L3Harris Nearly $300 Million for Resilient Communications Program' press release, the U.S. Army awarded orders totaling nearly 300 million dollars for full-rate production of software-defined Manpack and Leader radios to enhance seamless interoperability and resilience in contested environments.

Segmental Insights

The SATCOM segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth within the Global Military Communication Market due to the escalating requirement for beyond-line-of-sight capabilities in remote operational environments. Defense agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, are prioritizing the integration of satellite networks to ensure secure data transmission for command and control systems. This surge is further supported by the widespread deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles that rely heavily on continuous connectivity for real-time intelligence gathering, necessitating substantial investments in satellite infrastructure to ensure operational continuity across diverse geographical terrains.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the global military communication market due to substantial defense budgets and a strong focus on network modernization. The United States Department of Defense actively funds the deployment of secure and interoperable systems to enhance command and control capabilities. This financial support encourages established regional manufacturers to develop improved satellite and tactical radio solutions. Furthermore, ongoing programs designed to replace aging infrastructure with modern digital platforms drive consistent demand. These factors collectively ensure that North America remains the dominant contributor to the global industry.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Viasat Inc. was selected by the U.S. Space Force to serve as a prime contractor for the Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global (PTS-G) program. As part of this initiative, the company was tasked with designing a dual-band X/Ka-band satellite system to enhance the resilience and anti-jamming capabilities of military satellite communications. This award was a component of a broader effort to deploy a proliferated constellation of maneuverable geosynchronous satellites. The program aims to provide secure, reliable connectivity for global military operations, ensuring that warfighters maintain communication lines even in highly contested space environments.
• In June 2025, Thales and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed an agreement to establish a joint venture focused on advancing secure military communications. Based in Norway, this collaboration combined Thales’ expertise in cryptographic and secure network solutions with Kongsberg’s tactical radio and battlefield communication technologies. The new entity was created to address the growing demand for sovereign, interoperable communication systems among NATO members and European allies. By merging their respective portfolios, the companies aimed to deliver high-grade encryption and resilient connectivity solutions for land, air, and naval operations, strengthening defense capabilities across the region.
• In January 2025, L3Harris Technologies received production orders totaling approximately $300 million from the U.S. Army under the Handheld, Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS) program. This contract facilitated the delivery of advanced Manpack and Leader radios designed to provide resilient, multi-channel communications for soldiers in contested environments. The technology ensures seamless interoperability and secure data transmission from the tactical edge to aerial tiers, capable of withstanding complex electronic warfare attacks. These full-rate production orders underscored the company's continuing role in modernizing the Army's tactical network and enhancing situational awareness for ground forces.
• In October 2024, BAE Systems was awarded a five-year contract with a ceiling value of $460 million by the U.S. Army to support the AN/ARC-231/A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set (MARS). The agreement covered the supply of hardware components, repair services, and engineering support for this advanced airborne communication system, which is deployed on rotary-wing aircraft. The MARS system features software-defined architecture, allowing for rapid updates to waveforms and capabilities without requiring hardware replacements. This contract ensured that army aviation units could maintain secure, anti-jam voice and data transmission critical for mission success in dynamic battlefield conditions.

Key Market Players

• Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• BAE Systems plc
• Thales Group
• Raytheon Technologies Corporation
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• General Dynamics Corporation
• Cobham Limited
• Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
• Elbit Systems Ltd.

By 5 Component	By Technology	By Platform	By Application	By Region
Hardware and Software	SATCOM VHF/UHF/L-Band HF Communication Data Link	Airborne Ground Naval Space	Command & Control Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) Situational Awareness Routine Operations Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Military Communication Market, By 5 Component:

• Hardware and Software

• Military Communication Market, By Technology:

• SATCOM
• VHF/UHF/L-Band
• HF Communication
• Data Link

• Military Communication Market, By Platform:

• Airborne
• Ground
• Naval
• Space

• Military Communication Market, By Application:

• Command & Control
• Intelligence
• Surveillance
• Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Situational Awareness
• Routine Operations
• Others

• Military Communication Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE