Man Portable Communication Systems Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Man Portable Communication Systems Market is projected to expand from USD 6.86 Billion in 2025 to USD 12.85 Billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 11.03%. These systems, comprising lightweight transceivers and networking devices carried by soldiers, are essential for establishing secure voice and data connections in tactical settings. The market's momentum is largely driven by the urgent need to modernize C4ISR infrastructures and the growing requirement for resilient, interoperable connectivity in hostile zones. This expansion is supported by substantial financial backing; for instance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization reported that the collective defense spending of its members hit an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2024, fostering a strong environment for procuring tactical gear.

Despite this growth, the market encounters significant obstacles related to Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) limitations. The necessity of carrying heavy, high-capacity batteries to power advanced data transmission places a considerable strain on individual soldiers, restricting their mobility. Consequently, integrating additional capabilities becomes difficult without negatively impacting the physical endurance required for operations.

Market Drivers

Escalating global defense budgets and military modernization initiatives are fundamentally altering the procurement environment for tactical communications, leading to a steady rise in demand for advanced soldier systems. Governments around the world are significantly raising defense spending to swap out outdated analog infrastructures for digital, interoperable solutions that ensure connectivity in contested areas. This increase in funding enables armed forces to purchase high-bandwidth, soldier-borne devices necessary for modern command and control.

As noted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending hit a record $2.44 trillion in 2023, providing a solid foundation for defense purchases. This financial growth directly supports specific acquisitions, such as Thales Group securing an order in September 2024 for 2,705 AN/PRC-148F Leader Radios to aid the U.S. Army's tactical network modernization.

Simultaneously, progress in Software-Defined Radio (SDR) and Cognitive Radio Technologies is transforming the market by allowing for dynamic frequency management and multi-waveform compatibility within compact devices. Unlike traditional hardware-focused radios, modern SDRs permit soldiers to transmit voice, video, and data concurrently over secure networks, eliminating the need to carry multiple types of equipment. These technologies meet vital operational requirements for spectrum resilience and real-time situational awareness, especially in asymmetric warfare where electronic jamming is common. This shift toward versatile, software-based solutions is reflected in major contracts, such as L3Harris Technologies receiving a U.S. Marine Corps order in August 2024 worth over $120 million for multi-channel handheld and vehicular radio systems.

Market Challenges

Constraints related to Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) pose a critical barrier to the growth of the Global Man Portable Communication Systems Market. With modern warfare becoming more network-centric, the volume of electronic gear a soldier must carry has increased, resulting in an unsustainable physical load. This challenge extends beyond operations to impact procurement cycles, as defense agencies often delay or reject high-bandwidth transceivers because existing battery technologies cannot power them without exceeding human carrying capacities. As a result, the market sees a slowdown in the adoption of next-generation hardware as manufacturers attempt to reconcile performance requirements with portability needs.

The saturation of soldier load limits the market potential for new communication nodes that fail to offer immediate weight reductions. Physical limitations impose a strict ceiling on the deployment of new systems, as commanders are unable to sacrifice mobility for connectivity. This dynamic hinders revenue growth for heavier, high-capacity manpack solutions. According to the Association of the United States Army, in 2024, the average load for a dismounted soldier frequently surpassed 100 pounds, a physical burden that compels procurement officials to limit the addition of power-intensive communication assets.

Market Trends

The integration of Tactical 5G and LTE Technologies is placing a premium on high-bandwidth networks suitable for data-heavy tactical uses. Commercial cellular standards facilitate the seamless transfer of real-time video and AI analytics to dismounted troops, offering capabilities that legacy radios often lack. This transition is further hastened by Open Radio Access Network architectures, which enable defense agencies to incorporate multi-vendor components for enhanced supply chain flexibility. Illustrating this trend, Hughes Network Systems was awarded a $6.5 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense in November 2024 to implement a 5G Open Radio Access Network prototype at Fort Bliss, Texas, aimed at assessing resilient command and control functions.

Concurrently, the adoption of Multi-Orbit Man-Portable Satellite Terminals is enabling warfighters to utilize LEO and GEO constellations for improved resilience. These systems offer robust, high-throughput connectivity that is far more resistant to electronic jamming compared to traditional single-orbit links, ensuring continuous communication in contested areas. By automatically toggling between orbits, soldiers can maintain essential data links without the latency problems found in older hardware. This emphasis on resilient multi-domain connectivity is highlighted by recent funding; for example, Viasat secured a five-year contract from the U.S. General Services Administration in December 2024, with a $568 million ceiling, to provide advanced tactical networking and satellite communications for Special Operations Forces.

Key Players Profiled in the Man Portable Communication Systems Market

• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Thales Group
• RTX Corporation
• General Dynamics Corporation
• Northrop Grumman
• BAE Systems PLC
• Saab AB
• Elbit Systems Ltd.
• Cobham Limited
• Kongsberg Gruppen ASA

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Man Portable Communication Systems Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Man Portable Communication Systems Market, by Communication Type:

• Satellite Communication
• Software-Defined Radio (SDR)
• High Frequency (HF)
• Very High Frequency (VHF)
• Ultra High Frequency (UHF)

Man Portable Communication Systems Market, by Application:

• Defense & Homeland Security
• Commercial

Man Portable Communication Systems Market, by End-User:

• Military & Defense
• Emergency Services
• Industrial
• Outdoor Recreation
• Telecommunications

Man Portable Communication Systems Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Man Portable Communication Systems Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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