Airborne Fire Control Radar Market Report 2026

The airborne fire control radar market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.04 billion in 2025 to $3.23 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing adoption of pulse-doppler radar technologies for advanced target tracking, rising procurement of fast-strike aircraft equipped with integrated fire control radars, modernization programs upgrading legacy airborne radar systems, growing need for precision engagement capabilities in military operations, advancements in radar signal processing improving detection accuracy.

The airborne fire control radar market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.96 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of next-generation electronically scanned array radar deployments, rising investment in multi-mode airborne radars supporting complex mission profiles, increasing demand for high-resolution tracking to enhance weapon guidance precision, development of lightweight and power-efficient radar systems for new aircraft platforms, growing emphasis on interoperable radar architectures within network-centric warfare systems. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of ai for target detection and tracking, deployment of autonomous radar systems for rapid threat assessment, use of big data and cloud analytics to enhance radar accuracy, development of miniaturized radar components for lightweight platforms, implementation of multi-mode radar for simultaneous air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea operations.

The increasing demand for aircraft is expected to drive the growth of the airborne fire control radar market going forward. An aircraft is a vehicle supported in the air for flight by buoyancy or the dynamic action of air on its surfaces, typically powered by jet engines or shaped wings. Airborne fire control radar is critical for aircraft, providing pilots with precise guidance for targeting and engaging enemy aircraft or ground targets. For example, in January 2024, Airbus SE, a Netherlands-based manufacturer and developer of aerospace products and services, reported delivering 735 commercial aircraft to 87 customers worldwide in 2023, marking an 11% increase compared to 2022. Therefore, the rising demand for aircraft is fueling the growth of the airborne fire control radar market.

Major companies operating in the airborne fire control radar market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as multi-mission radar systems, to meet the growing need for improved targeting capabilities in modern military operations. A multi-mission radar system is a versatile radar capable of performing surveillance, target tracking, and threat detection simultaneously, enhancing situational awareness and operational adaptability in both military and civilian applications. For instance, in May 2025, SRC Inc., a US-based defense technology company, launched the Gryphon R1430/R1440 systems as part of its Gryphon Multi-Mission Radar family. These new radar systems are designed to provide enhanced situational awareness and targeting accuracy for both manned and unmanned aerial platforms. The Gryphon R1430/R1440 incorporate advanced signal processing and modular designs, enabling rapid adaptation to evolving mission needs. Their features include high-resolution imaging, real-time data fusion, and robust performance in contested environments, representing a significant improvement over traditional radar systems and offering enhanced operational effectiveness and mission success rates.

In April 2023, BlueHalo LLC, a US-based defense and space manufacturing company, acquired Verus Technology Group Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition strengthens BlueHalo’s product portfolio by integrating Verus’s technology with BlueHalo’s AI-driven RF-based Titan c-UAS, Locust directed energy c-UAS, and Argus Perimeter Security solutions. Verus Technology Group Inc. is a US-based defense and space manufacturer specializing in RF-based detection and fire control radar solutions.

Major companies operating in the airborne fire control radar market are Bharat Electronics Limited, Hensoldt AG, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems PLC, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Saab AB, Thales Group, General Dynamics Corporation, Airbus SE, ASELSAN A.S., Honeywell International Inc., NEC Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., ELTA Systems Ltd., Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Elbit Systems Ltd., Kongsberg Gruppen.

North America was the largest region in the airborne fire control radar market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the airborne fire control radar market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on radar components, semiconductor modules, and precision electronics have increased production costs for airborne fire control radars, impacting fighter jets, combat helicopters, and other platforms across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. The added costs can slow procurement and modernization programs for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea applications. Positively, tariffs encourage domestic manufacturing, local supply chain development, and investment in innovation to reduce dependence on imports and optimize radar performance.

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

Airborne fire control radars (FCRs) on fast-strike aircraft play a crucial role as pulse Doppler radars, providing essential target information to weapon fire control systems.

These radars operate in different frequency bands, including L and S-band, X-band, and Ku, K, or Ka-band. L-band covers the frequency range of 1-2 GHz in the radio spectrum, while S-band is part of the microwave band defined by IEEE standards for radio waves. The platforms employing airborne fire control radar include fighter jets, combat helicopters, and other aircraft utilized for air-to-ground, air-to-sea, and air-to-air communications. These radars are integral to enhancing the situational awareness and targeting capabilities of fast-strike aircraft in various operational scenarios.

The countries covered in the airborne fire control radar market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The airborne fire control radar market consists of sales of airborne fire control radars used to control the delivery of fire on a military target. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

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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