Radar Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Radar Market is projected to expand from USD 37.54 Billion in 2025 to USD 55.61 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 6.77%. This sector encompasses detection systems utilizing radio waves to ascertain the velocity, angle, and range of objects within meteorological, automotive, aviation, and defense industries. Key factors propelling this growth include the modernization of air traffic management infrastructure, the integration of safety mechanisms in autonomous vehicles, and elevated geopolitical tensions requiring enhanced surveillance. These developments are underpinned by substantial government defense funding; for instance, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported a 9.4 percent real-term increase in global military expenditure in 2024, reaching a total of $2.72 trillion.

Conversely, the market confronts a major obstacle in the form of radio frequency spectrum congestion. With the telecommunications industry expanding 5G and subsequent networks, bandwidth available for radar becomes scarcer, creating risks of signal interference and leading to stricter regulations. As a result, manufacturers are forced to invest heavily in developing systems that operate in higher, less populated frequencies. These increased development costs can delay product launches and hinder rapid market growth in regions that are sensitive to price fluctuations.

Market Drivers

Increasing military spending and defense modernization efforts are fundamentally transforming the Global Radar Market, fueled by geopolitical instability and the demand for superior surveillance. Countries are actively upgrading their air defense systems to neutralize emerging threats such as hypersonic missiles, leading to the acquisition of high-performance tracking systems designed for contested environments. This strategic priority is generating significant production orders for major defense firms; for example, RTX announced in June 2025 that its Raytheon business was awarded a $646 million contract modification to supply additional AN/SPY-6(V) radars to the U.S. Navy. Similarly, Hensoldt reported an order intake of EUR 1.4 billion in the first half of 2025, attributing the surge to heightened defense allocations.

Simultaneously, the rapid assimilation of autonomous technologies and automotive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is compelling manufacturers to embed precise sensing solutions into both commercial and passenger vehicles. Global safety regulations, such as those mandating automatic emergency braking, are driving the standardization of radar sensors across all vehicle classes, extending beyond luxury segments to mass production. This regulatory pressure is fast-tracking the deployment of next-generation 4D imaging radars, which provide the high resolution necessary for advanced vehicle autonomy. The magnitude of this shift is reflected in Continental's May 2025 announcement, which highlighted the receipt of approximately €1.5 billion in orders for radar sensors during the first quarter alone.

Market Challenges

Radio frequency spectrum congestion remains a persistent constraint on the Global Radar Market. As commercial telecommunication networks continue to expand their capabilities, the bandwidth traditionally allocated for aviation and defense radar systems is becoming increasingly fragmented. This saturation introduces significant risks of signal interference and demands rigorous compliance with tightening regulatory standards. To ensure operational reliability, manufacturers are forced to redesign their systems to operate within higher, less congested frequency bands.

This necessary transition demands substantial capital investment and prolongs the time required to introduce new products to the market. The consequent rise in unit costs restricts adoption rates in cost-sensitive areas, effectively dampening the industry's overall growth trajectory. The severity of the competition for spectrum resources is highlighted by the rapid growth of commercial mobile technologies; according to the GSMA, global 5G connections exceeded 1.6 billion in 2024, signaling a massive increase in commercial spectrum usage that places direct pressure on the adjacent bands used for radar applications.

Market Trends

The widespread integration of Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology is revolutionizing radar system design by replacing legacy Gallium Arsenide components and traveling wave tubes. GaN semiconductors provide superior breakdown voltage and thermal conductivity, allowing manufacturers to construct amplifiers that offer extended detection ranges and higher power density within compact units. This transition toward high-efficiency materials is critical for modern defense architectures that demand powerful yet lightweight sensors. For instance, RTX announced in September 2025 that it secured a $1.7 billion contract from the U.S. Army for the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), confirming the sector's rapid shift toward solid-state technologies that guarantee operational dominance.

In parallel, the market is focusing on the creation of Multi-Functional RF Systems that combine various mission capabilities - such as drone tracking, counter-battery fire, and air surveillance - into a single hardware unit. Utilizing flexible architectures and digital beamforming, these systems remove the necessity for deploying multiple distinct sensors, thereby decreasing operational costs and logistical burdens for military forces. The demand for such versatile, consolidated solutions is fueling significant procurement activity; as reported by Defence Industry Europe in March 2025, Lockheed Martin was awarded a USD 213 million contract to supply these multi-mission AN/MPQ-64A4 Sentinel radars to the U.S. Army.

Key Players Profiled in the Radar Market

• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• RTX Corporation
• Thales Group
• Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Honeywell International Inc.
• Saab AB
• Leonardo S.p.A.
• BAE Systems PLC
• Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
• Elbit Systems Ltd.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Radar Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Radar Market, by Type:

• Continuous Wave (CW) Radar
• Pulsed Wave (PW) Radar
• Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) Radar

Radar Market, by Application:

• Airborne Radar
• Land-Based Radar
• Naval Radar
• Space-Based Radar

Radar Market, by Technology:

• Phased Array Radar
• Passive Radar
• Synthetic Aperture Radar

Radar Market, by End User:

• Military & Defense
• Civil Aviation
• Maritime
• Weather Monitoring
• Others

Radar 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 Radar 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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