5G in Defense Market Report 2026

The 5G in defense market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $0.61 billion in 2025 to $1.04 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 71.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to need for secure communications, modernization of defense infrastructure, adoption of wireless battlefield systems, growth of network centric warfare, early lte defense trials.

The 5G in defense market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.84 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 70.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to deployment of private 5G networks, integration of autonomous defense systems, demand for real time intelligence, growth of edge computing in defense, increased defense spending. Major trends in the forecast period include secure military communications, edge enabled tactical networks, low latency battlefield connectivity, private 5G defense networks, network virtualization adoption.

The increasing use of autonomous systems and connected devices is expected to drive the growth of 5G in the defense market during the forecast period. Autonomous systems and connected devices include self-operating technologies and interconnected hardware capable of communication and data exchange. These systems enhance defense capabilities through rapid data transmission, real-time decision-making, and synchronized operations enabled by the high-speed, low-latency features of 5G networks. For example, in October 2025, according to IoT Analytics, a Germany-based provider of global market insights, the number of connected IoT devices is projected to grow by 14% in 2025, reaching 39 billion by 2030. Therefore, the rising adoption of autonomous systems and connected devices is fueling the growth of 5G in the defense market.

Leading companies within the 5G defense market are prioritizing product innovation, particularly in the realm of real-time mobile data access, to cater to the evolving needs of the industry. Real-time mobile data access empowers instantaneous retrieval and interaction with data using mobile devices, revolutionizing operational efficiency. An illustration of this innovation is seen in Getac Technology Corporation's October 2023 launch of 5G rugged devices customized for defense, first responders, and resource industries in Australia and New Zealand. This lineup includes the V110 fully rugged laptop, S410 semi-rugged laptop, F110 fully rugged tablet, and UX10 fully rugged tablet, all equipped with swift 5G connectivity and designed to endure challenging field environments. These devices are purpose-built to facilitate immediate mobile data retrieval, enabling tasks such as digital evidence collection, asset and component management, examination of technical diagrams and infrastructure maps, as well as efficient reporting. They support remote workers by ensuring connectivity and data accessibility, conducting site surveys, offering precise GPS and mapping capabilities, documenting initial on-site events, enabling mobile command functions, and delivering real-time situational awareness. This product line's emphasis on real-time mobile data access marks a significant advancement in enhancing operational effectiveness within the defense sector.

In May 2024, Nokia Corp., a Finland-based telecommunications and network solutions company, acquired Fenix Group for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Nokia aims to strengthen its defense and mission-critical communications portfolio, accelerate the development of secure 5G-enabled battlefield technologies, expand its presence in the U.S. defense market, and enhance the integration of advanced IoT and AI-driven operational capabilities across military applications. Fenix Group is a U.S.-based company specializing in Battlefield-of-Things solutions, offering secure communications, situational awareness, and connected operations technologies for defense forces.

Major companies operating in the 5g in defense market are Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.; Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.; Raytheon Technologies Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Qualcomm Technologies Inc.; General Dynamics Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Honeywell International Inc.; Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson; BAE Systems plc; Nokia Corporation; NEC Corporation; Thales Group Inc.; Leonardo S.p.A.; L3Harris Technologies Inc.; Elbit Systems Ltd.; Saab AB; Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG; Curtiss-Wright Corporation; QinetiQ Group plc; LIG Nex1 Co. Ltd.; Ultra Electronics Holdings plc; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc.; Comtech Telecommunications Corp.; Wind River Systems Inc.; Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.; Ligado Networks LLC.

North America was the largest region in the 5G in defense market in 2025. Asia-Pacific region is predicted to record the fastest growth over the forecast period. The regions covered in the 5G in defense market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the 5G in defense market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Tariffs have influenced the 5G in defense market by increasing procurement costs for network hardware, radio equipment, and secure communication components. These impacts are most evident in large scale military modernization programs across north america and europe, where advanced communication systems are prioritized. Higher costs have extended procurement cycles and encouraged phased deployments. On the positive side, tariffs have supported domestic defense manufacturing and strengthened national security focused 5G supply chains.

The 5G in defense market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides 5G in defense market statistics, including 5G in defense industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a 5G in defense market share, detailed 5G in defense market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the 5G in defense industry. This 5G in defense market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

5G in defense pertains to the implementation of the fifth generation of broadband or cellular technology, commonly known as 5G, within military and defense contexts. This technology is specifically engineered to significantly enhance the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks, catering to various applications and requirements within the defense sector.

Communication infrastructure for 5G in defense includes small cell, macro cell, and radio access network (RAN). Small cell infrastructure utilizes wireless receivers and transmitters to ensure network coverage in smaller areas, while macro cell provides broader radio coverage through large towers and antennas. Radio Access Network (RAN) facilitates connections between individual devices and other parts of the network via radio connections. The network technology in 5G for defense encompasses software-defined networking (SDN), fog computing (FC), mobile edge computing (MEC), and network functions virtualization (NFV). Various network types in 5G for defense include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (MMTC). These technologies find applications in military, homeland security, and related sectors.

The 5G in defense market includes revenues earned by entities by providing 5G technology and services for military and homeland security uses. 5G for defense is expected to improve reconnaissance, intelligence, and surveillance systems and processing, streamline logistics systems for increased efficiency and enable new methods of control and command. 5G in defense transfers video, text, image, and voice data with a faster bandwidth of 300 GHz to create data on demand for the battlefield. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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