Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market is projected to expand from USD 7.65 Billion in 2025 to USD 10.78 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 5.88%. This market centers on passive sensors that identify and track targets through thermal emissions without generating their own radiation, thereby facilitating stealthy target acquisition. The primary catalysts for this market include the urgent requirement to neutralize low-observable aerial threats and the technology's resistance to electronic jamming, both of which are foundational drivers independent of temporary trends. This strategic focus is evidenced by significant investment within the sector; for instance, the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe reported that the European defense sector's turnover rose by 13.8% to €183.4 billion in 2024, highlighting a deepened fiscal commitment to upgrading combat capabilities, including optical sensors.

Nevertheless, a major obstacle hindering wider market growth is the unavoidable degradation of infrared sensor performance under unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Elements such as high humidity, dense cloud cover, and precipitation can weaken thermal signals, which restricts the operational reliability of these systems in certain environments when compared to active radar. Consequently, while the demand for stealthy, passive detection remains high, the physical limitations imposed by weather conditions continue to challenge the universal applicability of IRST technology in adverse climates.

Market Drivers

The rapid incorporation of IRST solutions into next-generation fighter aircraft serves as a major engine for market expansion, driven by the priority modern air forces place on passive sensing to ensure air superiority. In contrast to active radar, which can reveal an aircraft's location, IRST systems allow pilots to detect and track aerial threats through heat signatures while maintaining electromagnetic silence, a vital capability for fifth-generation platforms in contested environments. This momentum is illustrated by the ongoing production of advanced stealth fighters featuring embedded electro-optical targeting systems; notably, Lockheed Martin reported the delivery of 110 F-35 aircraft in 2024, directly expanding the global fleet equipped with these complex onboard sensor suites.

Simultaneously, the increase in global defense budgets and military modernization efforts provides the necessary financial backing for acquiring these expensive avionics technologies. Rising geopolitical instability has forced nations to significantly raise defense allocations, enabling the purchase of advanced optical tracking systems to address growing peer-adversary capabilities. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in April 2024 indicates that total global military expenditure hit $2.44 trillion in 2023, a 6.8% real-term increase. This fiscal growth is clearly reflected in strategic alliances, with NATO reporting in February 2024 that European Allies and Canada were expected to invest a combined $380 billion in defense in 2024, demonstrating the strong funding landscape that supports the broad deployment of next-generation sensor technologies.

Market Challenges

The reduction in infrared sensor performance caused by adverse atmospheric conditions constitutes a major hurdle for the Global Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market. Because IRST systems depend on the detection of thermal contrast, their effectiveness is significantly diminished in environments rich in moisture, such as heavy rain, thick fog, or clouds, which absorb and scatter infrared radiation. This physical constraint ensures that defense operators cannot rely exclusively on passive optical sensors for situational awareness during critical missions, necessitating the retention of active radar systems to guarantee all-weather operational capability.

The requirement for sensor redundancy constrains the market potential of IRST technology by positioning it as a complementary tool rather than a standalone substitute for traditional radar. As a result, procurement funds are distributed across various sensor types, which limits the specific financial allocation available for infrared systems. This limitation remains even amidst the vast scale of the wider defense sector; the Aerospace Industries Association noted that the U.S. aerospace and defense industry generated over $995 billion in total business activity in 2024. Although this figure suggests substantial available capital, the inability of IRST to operate reliably in all climatic scenarios prevents it from securing a larger portion of these defense investments.

Market Trends

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Automated Target Recognition is transforming the market by resolving the persistent issue of high false-alarm rates in passive sensing. While traditional algorithms often struggle with thermal clutter in complicated environments, AI-powered processing allows IRST systems to autonomously differentiate between actual aerial threats and background noise, thereby greatly lowering the cognitive burden on pilots during intense operations. This technological necessity is spurring significant development funding; as reported by the European Defence Agency in September 2025, defense Research & Development (R&D) expenditure among member states totaled €13 billion in 2024, providing the capital injection essential for maturing these advanced signal processing architectures.

Concurrently, the rise of Networked IRST for Cross-Platform Cooperative Targeting is broadening the utility of the technology from individual aircraft protection to fleet-wide situational awareness. By connecting distributed infrared sensors through high-speed data links, military operators are able to triangulate target positions to calculate range passively, effectively circumventing the distance-measurement limitations associated with standalone optical sensors. This trend is swiftly expanding into the space domain to address hypersonic threats; as noted by the Investing News Network in December 2025, the Space Development Agency awarded $3.5 billion in contracts for missile tracking satellites, indicating a clear move toward a proliferated, global infrared sensor mesh.

Key Players Profiled in the Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market

• Leonardo S.P.A.
• Thales Group
• Rheinmetall AG
• Aselsan A.S.
• Safran S.A.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Northrop Grumman Corporation
• HGH Systemes Infrarouges
• Tonbo Imaging Private Limited
• Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market, by Component:

• Scanning Head
• Processing Unit
• Control & Display Unit

Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market, by End User:

• Civil
• Defense

Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System Market, by Platform:

• Airborne
• Naval
• Land
• Others

Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System 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 Infrared Search & Track (IRST) System 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).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.