Military Man Portable Radar System Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Component (Antenna, Transmitter, Receivers, and Others), By Range (Less than 50 Km and More than 50 Km), By Frequency-Band (Ka-Band, Ku-Band and Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.71 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.65%
Fastest Growing Segment	Antenna
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 10.44 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Military Man Portable Radar System Market will grow from USD 6.71 Billion in 2025 to USD 10.44 Billion by 2031 at a 7.65% CAGR. The Global Military Man Portable Radar System Market comprises compact, lightweight surveillance units designed for rapid deployment by individual soldiers or small teams to detect hostile infantry, vehicles, and low-flying drones. The primary drivers fueling market growth include the intensifying need for real-time situational awareness in asymmetric warfare and the escalating demand for effective border security solutions to monitor illegal crossings. Furthermore, the operational requirement for force protection in remote, austere environments where vehicle-based systems are impractical supports the continuous procurement of these versatile sensors.

However, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the inherent limitation of power supply and battery life, which restricts the operational duration and range of these man-portable units compared to larger platforms. This rising demand for robust ground systems is reflected in recent industry performance. According to the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, in 2023, the turnover of the land defense sector increased by 17.7%, underscoring the substantial investment in ground-based military capabilities.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating geopolitical tensions and the consequent prioritization of border security are the primary catalysts for the procurement of man-portable radar systems. Nations are rapidly deploying these compact sensors to monitor porous boundaries and conflict zones where larger infrastructure is vulnerable or unavailable. This surge in procurement is directly linked to rising defense budgets aimed at deterring conventional aggression and securing territorial integrity through enhanced situational awareness at the tactical edge. Governments are prioritizing funding for assets that offer high mobility and rapid deployment capabilities to counter potential incursions. According to NATO, June 2024, in the 'Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014-2024)' communiqué, defense spending across European Allies and Canada is estimated to have increased by 17.9% in real terms for 2024, reflecting an urgent shift toward high-readiness capabilities including tactical surveillance.

The proliferation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and the critical need for Counter-UAS capabilities further compel the adoption of man-portable radars. As adversaries increasingly utilize low-observable drones for reconnaissance and asymmetric attacks, ground forces require immediate, squad-level detection capabilities that vehicle-mounted radars cannot always provide in complex terrain. These portable systems serve as the initial warning layer in a multi-domain defense architecture, triggering kinetic or electronic countermeasures against hostile drones. This operational necessity drives substantial capital allocation toward specific counter-drone technologies. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, March 2024, in the 'Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request', the department allocated $2.4 billion specifically for unmanned aircraft system defense capabilities, highlighting the strategic pivot toward neutralizing drone threats. This segment growth aligns with broader spending trends, as according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 2024, total global military expenditure reached $2,443 billion in the previous year, driven largely by the demand for responsive tactical equipment.

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Key Market Challenges

The inherent limitation of power supply and battery life constitutes a formidable obstacle to the expansion of the Global Military Man Portable Radar System Market. Although these systems are marketed for their mobility, the high energy consumption required for continuous signal processing drastically reduces their operational endurance. Soldiers are frequently compelled to carry substantial quantities of spare batteries to maintain situational awareness over extended periods, a requirement that significantly increases the physical load and logistical footprint of small units. This dependency on finite power sources undermines the core value proposition of portability, making these systems less attractive for long-duration missions in remote areas where recharging infrastructure is unavailable.

Consequently, this energy constraint acts as a friction point against broader procurement, even amidst a climate of heightened defense investment. Procurement officials are often hesitant to fully commit to battery-dependent architectures for persistent surveillance roles, fearing that power exhaustion could leave troops vulnerable. This hesitation dampens market momentum despite aggressive capital allocation in the broader sector. According to the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, in 2024, the turnover of the defense sector increased by 13.8%. While this statistic reflects a robust demand for military hardware, the growth of man-portable radars remains tempered by energy storage limitations, preventing the sector from fully capitalizing on these expanded budgets.

Key Market Trends

The Proliferation of Man-Portable 4D AESA Radar Architectures is fundamentally transforming detection capabilities for dismounted infantry. These advanced units increasingly utilize Gallium Nitride technology to deliver simultaneous air and ground tracking while significantly reducing system weight and power consumption. This architectural shift enables small units to deploy high-fidelity sensors that can precisely determine the velocity, azimuth, and elevation of low-signature threats, a capability previously reserved for larger vehicle-mounted platforms. This surge in demand for high-performance tactical sensors is evident in recent industry financials; according to Saab, October 2024, in the 'Interim Report Q3 2024', operating income for the Surveillance business area improved by 38%, driven by strong performance and deliveries of advanced sensor systems.

Concurrently, the Integration of Artificial Intelligence for Automated Target Recognition is becoming standard to manage the data overload generated by these sensitive systems. As man-portable radars achieve higher fidelity, operators are often overwhelmed by clutter and non-hostile returns, necessitating intelligent algorithms at the edge to autonomously classify targets like drones, humans, or vehicles in real-time. This integration drastically reduces the cognitive load on soldiers, ensuring actionable intelligence is generated without the need for constant manual signal interpretation. Manufacturers are aggressively funding the software-defined aspects of these systems; according to Elbit Systems, November 2024, in the 'Third Quarter 2024 Results', net research and development expenses rose to $119.9 million, largely due to intensified R&D efforts within the land segment aimed at advancing next-generation capabilities.

Segmental Insights

Based on current industry analysis, the Antenna segment is recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global Military Man Portable Radar System Market due to the critical operational requirement for lightweight and compact equipment. Modern infantry operations demand portable radars that eliminate heavy mechanical steering parts, leading to a surge in the adoption of advanced electronic scanning antennas. These components allow soldiers to maintain high mobility while ensuring precise target tracking in diverse field conditions. Consequently, manufacturers are prioritizing the development of smaller, energy-efficient antenna units to meet these rigorous weight and performance standards, thereby driving significant expansion in this segment.

Regional Insights

North America dominates the global military man portable radar system market due to extensive defense expenditure and modernization initiatives, particularly within the United States. The U.S. Department of Defense prioritizes the procurement of lightweight surveillance technologies to improve tactical situational awareness for ground troops. Additionally, the region hosts established defense manufacturers that consistently invest in research and development to meet evolving security requirements. This combination of strong government funding for border protection and military readiness creates a robust environment for market expansion, maintaining North America’s leading status.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, Meteksan Defense unveiled the Retinar Ground Surveillance Radar (GSR) at the IDEF 2025 exhibition. This system was introduced as the latest addition to the company's Retinar family, specifically developed to meet requirements for long-range target detection. The radar demonstrated the capability to detect human targets at distances of up to 12 kilometers and utilized micro-Doppler spectrogram analysis to classify both slow-moving and fast-moving threats. The President of Meteksan Defense stated that the system would strengthen border security and critical infrastructure protection by operating continuously in adverse weather conditions such as fog.
• In August 2024, Echodyne entered into a strategic partnership with BRINC to integrate its ground-based radar technology into a drone-based first responder solution. The collaboration focused on utilizing Echodyne’s compact, metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA) radars to enable Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations without the need for visual observers. This integration was designed to provide a comprehensive view of the surrounding airspace, allowing for the automatic detection of other aircraft and obstacles. The partnership aimed to enhance the safety and reliability of autonomous systems used in public safety and perimeter security missions.
• In June 2024, ELDAAS Technologies launched Spandana, a new ground surveillance radar system, at the International Microwave Symposium held in Washington, D.C. The system was engineered to offer high-precision detection with an accuracy of less than one meter, operating within the C-band frequency range. It incorporated advanced technologies, including Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Artificial Intelligence, and digital beamforming, to detect and classify targets in real-time. The company positioned the product as a cost-effective and compact solution suitable for diverse security applications, with availability for pre-order announced immediately following the unveiling.
• In April 2024, Aselsan A.S. was awarded a contract to supply its ACAR-K surveillance radar systems to the Argentinian Armed Forces. These man-portable land surveillance radars are designed to detect, track, and classify moving targets on the ground or close to the ground, operating effectively in both day and night conditions. The ACAR-K system utilizes Ku-band technology and features automatic target classification capabilities, while also providing fire adjustment data for artillery units. This procurement was intended to modernize the surveillance infrastructure of the client, offering a versatile and mobile solution for diverse operational environments.

Key Market Players

• ASELSAN A.Ş.
• BAE Systems plc
• Blighter Surveillance Systems Limited
• Elbit Systems Ltd.
• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Leonardo S.p.A.
• Saab AB
• Rheinmetall AG
• Thales SA

By Component	By Range	By Frequency-Band	By Region
Antenna Transmitter Receivers and Others	Less than 50 Km and More than 50 Km	Ka-Band Ku-Band and Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Military Man Portable Radar System Market, By Component:

• Antenna
• Transmitter
• Receivers
• and Others

• Military Man Portable Radar System Market, By Range:

• Less than 50 Km and More than 50 Km

• Military Man Portable Radar System Market, By Frequency-Band:

• Ka-Band
• Ku-Band and Others

• Military Man Portable Radar System 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