X-Band Radar Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Mobile X-Band Radar, Sea-Based X-Band Radar), By End User (Aviation Industry, Defense Industry, Others), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.39 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.18%
Fastest Growing Segment	Sea-Based X-Band Radar
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.65 Billion

Market Overview

The Global X-Band Radar Market will grow from USD 6.39 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.65 Billion by 2031 at a 5.18% CAGR. X Band Radar is a specialized detection technology operating within the 8 to 12 GHz frequency range that utilizes short wavelengths to generate high resolution images for precise target identification. The expansion of this market is supported by the escalating requirement for coastal border surveillance and the enforcement of maritime vessel traffic safety protocols. These distinct drivers sustain demand for X Band systems in both defense and civil sectors by fulfilling the need for detailed situational awareness that lower frequency alternatives cannot provide.

One major challenge impeding market growth is signal attenuation where atmospheric moisture absorbs electromagnetic energy and restricts effective detection range during heavy precipitation. This physical limitation often forces operators to install additional units to maintain reliable coverage. According to the World Meteorological Organization, in 2024, the global database of operational weather radars tracked 1,118 registered systems. This figure underscores the scale of the meteorological infrastructure market where X Band units are increasingly essential for filling coverage gaps and ensuring localized storm tracking accuracy.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating global defense expenditure and military modernization programs are the primary forces accelerating the adoption of X-Band radar systems, particularly for fire control and precision targeting applications. As nations transition from legacy hardware to advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) architectures, there is a surge in procurement for radars capable of tracking low-observable threats such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems. This financial commitment is evident in global budget trends; according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 2024, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023' Fact Sheet, global military spending grew by 6.8 percent in real terms to reach $2443 billion in 2023. This capital influx directly facilitates the acquisition of specialized X-band units like the Giraffe 1X, which offer the high update rates required for short-range air defense. According to Saab, in 2024, the company received an order valued at approximately SEK 700 million for the Giraffe 1X surface radar, underscoring the robust commercial activity within the defense sector for this frequency band.

Concurrently, the increasing demand for high-resolution meteorological monitoring and disaster management is reshaping the civil market segment. While traditional S-band and C-band radars provide broad regional coverage, they often lack the precision to detect localized severe weather events like flash floods and microbursts in urban environments. The rising frequency of extreme weather events is compelling governments to densify their sensor networks with X-band "gap-filler" radars to protect infrastructure and populations. The economic urgency of this requirement is significant; according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, January 2024, in the '2023 U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters' report, the United States experienced 28 separate weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each. Consequently, meteorological agencies are increasingly investing in mobile and fixed X-band solutions to enhance storm tracking accuracy and mitigate the financial impact of such catastrophes.

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Key Market Challenges

Signal attenuation presents a significant physical impediment to the Global X-Band Radar Market, primarily caused by atmospheric moisture absorbing electromagnetic energy. X-band frequencies, while superior for high-resolution imaging, are highly susceptible to "rain fade," where heavy precipitation severely degrades signal strength and curtails the effective detection range. This limitation hampers market growth by necessitating a higher density of radar installations to avoid coverage gaps, thereby inflating the capital expenditure and operational complexity for end-users.

Consequently, potential adopters in cost-sensitive sectors may hesitate to deploy these systems, as achieving reliable situational awareness requires a complex mesh of overlapping units rather than fewer, longer-range alternatives. This requirement for extensive infrastructure density is evident in regions employing multi-frequency networks. According to the Network of European Meteorological Services (EUMETNET), in 2025, the operational OPERA database listed 217 radar systems necessary to maintain comprehensive composite coverage across its member states. Such a high volume of required hardware underscores the financial and logistical burden imposed by range-limited technologies, directly challenging the broader scalability of X-band solutions in price-competitive markets.

Key Market Trends

The proliferation of Space-Based X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is reshaping the market by establishing persistent, global monitoring capabilities that transcend traditional ground-based limitations. This trend involves the deployment of agile satellite constellations providing high-resolution imagery regardless of atmospheric conditions, effectively bridging intelligence gaps for defense and environmental applications. Governments are rapidly procuring these commercial services to secure immediate strategic advantages. The magnitude of this shift is evident in recent expenditures; according to Breaking Defense, December 2025, the German Ministry of Defence awarded a contract worth approximately €1.7 billion to ICEYE and Rheinmetall for the development of a dedicated SAR satellite constellation.

Simultaneously, the adoption of Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology for power efficiency is revolutionizing radar architecture by delivering superior energy density compared to legacy semiconductors. This material transition enables the production of compact, high-performance systems that maintain extended detection ranges without the thermal and spatial burdens of previous generations. Defense agencies are prioritizing this technology to counter sophisticated airborne threats with greater precision. Underscoring this demand, according to RTX, September 2025, Raytheon received a $1.7 billion contract to deliver the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), which utilizes this advanced semiconductor technology to enhance signal sensitivity and reliability.

Segmental Insights

The Sea-Based segment is recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global X-Band Radar Market due to heightened demand for maritime surveillance and ballistic missile defense capabilities. Nations are increasingly equipping naval fleets with these systems to ensure precise target tracking and early threat detection in international waters. This surge in adoption is supported by strategic defense initiatives from entities such as the U.S. Department of Defense, which emphasize the necessity of mobile, high-resolution radar for national security. Consequently, the focus on modernizing naval infrastructure to counter evolving aerial and surface risks is fueling substantial segment expansion.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global X-Band radar market, driven primarily by extensive defense expenditures and established technological infrastructure. The region supports a robust network of manufacturers focusing on system upgrades for national security. Key federal entities, such as the United States Department of Defense, heavily integrate these radars for threat detection and border surveillance. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration relies on X-Band technology for detailed storm analysis. This consistent procurement by government agencies for both military and meteorological applications solidifies North America as the primary market hub.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Saab received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to supply the Sea Giraffe 1X radar system to the Swedish Navy. Valued at approximately SEK 340 million, the contract involves the delivery of this compact X-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for installation on surface ships and for training purposes between 2024 and 2026. The Sea Giraffe 1X is designed to offer simultaneous air and surface surveillance, enhancing the naval units' ability to detect and classify threats, including small drones, in coastal and littoral environments.
• In October 2024, Raytheon was awarded a $900 million contract modification by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to continue its support for critical sensing systems within the "Global X-Band Radar Market". The extension tasks the company with providing ongoing operations and sustainment for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) and the Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control Model 2 (AN/TPY-2) systems. The SBX remains a primary asset for ballistic missile defense, leveraging its high-resolution X-band capabilities to discriminate between threats and non-threats at long ranges. This modification extends the ordering period for these services through October 2026.
• In September 2024, Leonardo DRS secured a contract from the U.S. Navy valued at potentially $235.9 million to manufacture and deliver AN/SPQ-9B radar systems. This X-band, pulse Doppler radar is a critical component for the littoral environment, designed to detect and track low-flying threats such as anti-ship cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in high-clutter situations. The agreement involves the production, inspection, and testing of these radar units and associated spare kits to support fleet protection capabilities. The contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy and the Japanese government under the Foreign Military Sales program.
• In March 2024, HENSOLDT UK announced the successful completion of Type Approval for its Manta NEO X-band radar system, a significant development in the "Global X-Band Radar Market" for commercial shipping. The approval, issued by TÜV SÜD BABT, confirmed that the solid-state radar system complied with the Marine Equipment Directive for shipborne radar equipment. Designed to eliminate the need for magnetron replacements, the system utilizes CHIRP pulse compression and beam sharpening technology to deliver superior long-range resolution and target separation. This validation positions the company to better serve various vessel types, ranging from workboats to large tankers.

Key Market Players

• Thales S.A.
• RTX Corporation
• Brunswick Corporation
• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd
• Vaisala Oyj
• Furuno Electric Co., Ltd
• Japan Radio Co., Ltd
• Saab AB
• Terma Group
• EWR Radar Systems, Inc.

By Type	By End User	By Region
Mobile X-Band Radar Sea-Based X-Band Radar	Aviation Industry Defense Industry Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• X-Band Radar Market, By Type:

• Mobile X-Band Radar
• Sea-Based X-Band Radar

• X-Band Radar Market, By End User:

• Aviation Industry
• Defense Industry
• Others

• X-Band Radar 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