Air Defense System Market Report 2026

The air defense system market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $35.06 billion in 2025 to $37.28 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising procurement of ground-based air defense systems for border protection, increasing deployment of man-portable air defense systems in asymmetric warfare, growth in modernization programs to replace legacy air defense platforms, heightened threat from hostile uavs and cruise missiles driving system upgrades, advancements in radar and command-and-control integration improving system effectiveness.

The air defense system market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $47.21 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of mobile air defense system adoption for rapid-response operations, increasing investment in multi-layered air and missile defense architectures, growing demand for counter-UAV technologies within integrated defense systems, development of advanced interceptors with improved accuracy and range, rising emphasis on interoperable defense networks among allied nations. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of multi-layer integrated air defense networks, increasing demand for mobile and rapidly deployable air defense units, growing focus on counter-uav and swarm-defense capabilities, upgrades of legacy air defense systems with precision engagement technologies, expansion of long-range hypersonic missile interception capabilities.

The growing number of air-based threats is expected to propel the growth of the air defense system market going forward. Air threats refer to the risks posed by enemy forces using aerial platforms - such as aircraft, bombs, and missiles - to exploit vulnerabilities. Air defense systems help counter these threats by detecting, identifying, tracking, and neutralizing incoming aerial targets before they can cause damage. With the evolution of air power, the spectrum of threats has expanded to include attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. For instance, in January 2024, according to a report published by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a UK-based non-governmental organization, air-launched attacks surged by 226% in 2023, rising from 519 incidents in 2022. Therefore, the increasing prevalence of air-based threats is driving the demand for air defense systems.

Major companies operating in the air defense system market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as interceptor missiles, to address rising requirements for enhanced aerial threat protection. Interceptor missiles are engineered to detect, track, and eliminate incoming threats - including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. Unlike traditional systems that use proximity fuses or fragmentation warheads, modern interceptors utilize hit-to-kill technology, offering greater precision and reducing collateral damage. For example, in October 2025, Boeing, a US-based aerospace company, secured approximately $2.7 billion in multi-year contracts to supply more than 3,000 guidance seekers for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missiles. These guidance seekers enable the missiles to accurately detect, track, and engage targets. Production is projected to scale up to 750 units annually through 2030. This heightened demand is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts in regions including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. These developments also align with broader U.S. defense priorities, including former President Donald Trump's proposed Golden Dome missile defense initiative.

In August 2023, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), an India-based nuclear power and engineering company, partnered with Leonardo S.p.A under a long-term Collaboration Agreement for the development of Air Defense Guns (ADG) and Electro-Optical Fire Control Systems (EOFCS). The partnership aims to strengthen BHEL’s capabilities in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and assembling cutting-edge defense systems. Leonardo S.p.A is an Italy-based defense technology company.

Major companies operating in the air defense system market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Rheinmetall AG, Thales Group, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Hanwha Corporation, Leonardo SPA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Saab AB, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., The Boeing Company, Aselsan AS, Airbus Defence and Space, Elbit Systems Ltd., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Cobham Ltd., MBDA Missile Systems, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Defense Research and Development Organization, Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corporation, Almaz-Antey Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Rostec State Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the air defense system market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the air defense system market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the air defense system 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 critical defense electronics, propulsion components, and radar subsystems have increased the production and procurement costs of air defense systems, most notably affecting long-range and missile-defense platforms across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. These tariffs slow deployment timelines and elevate costs for land, naval, and airborne applications. However, they also stimulate domestic manufacturing, promote regional supply-chain resilience, and accelerate innovation in indigenous weapon systems and fire-control technologies.

The air defense system market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides air defense system market statistics, including air defense system industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an air defense systems market share, detailed air defense system market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the air defense system industry. This air defense systems 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.

An air defense system is a comprehensive system designed to mitigate the aerial threats posed by enemy manned aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), smaller drones, and missiles, ultimately enhancing national security. Its primary functions include detecting, identifying, and tracking potential threats, followed by engaging and neutralizing them before they can cause harm.

The main types of air defense systems include missile defense systems, anti-aircraft systems, and Counter Rockets, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) systems. Missile defense systems encompass a range of technologies and strategies aimed at detecting, tracking, intercepting, and destroying incoming missiles before they reach their intended targets. These systems can be ground-based, sea-based, or air-based, utilizing various methods to defend against different types of missiles, such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles. Key components of air defense systems include weapon systems, fire control systems, command and control systems, among others. These components are utilized in short-range air defense systems, medium-range air defense systems, and long-range air defense systems, and are applied across land, naval, and airborne platforms.

The countries covered in the air defense system market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The air defense systems market consists of sales of ground-based air defense systems, mobile ground-based air defense systems, man-portable air defense systems, and ballistic missile defense systems. 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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