Infrared Telescope Market Report 2025

The infrared telescope market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.21 billion in 2024 to $2.39 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing demand for military surveillance and reconnaissance, greater investment in space exploration missions, heightened interest in deep-space astronomy, advancements in cooled infrared detector technology, and the widening use of infrared telescopes in atmospheric and climate research.

The infrared telescope market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.23 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth expected in the forecast period can be attributed to the rising deployment of commercial satellites equipped with infrared payloads, increased emphasis on space-based early warning systems, growing interest in the detection of exoplanets and studies on habitability, expanded use of infrared telescopes in academic research, and the broadening of space-based infrared observation initiatives. Key trends anticipated during this period include advancements in detector technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence, progress in adaptive optics, the combination with multispectral imaging capabilities, and the miniaturization of infrared telescope systems.

The growing investments in space-based research are expected to drive the infrared telescope market in the coming years. Space-based research involves scientific experiments and studies carried out beyond Earth's atmosphere using tools like satellites and telescopes to investigate Earth, outer space, and the effects of microgravity. These investments are increasing due to the heightened global interest in space exploration, which fosters scientific breakthroughs, economic development, and strategic progress. Infrared telescopes help detect celestial bodies hidden by cosmic dust and gas, thereby deepening our understanding of the universe and encouraging strategic funding in space research. For example, in March 2022, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources in Australia reported that the 2022-23 national budget allocated significant support for space projects, including $1.16 billion through 2038-39 and $38.5 million annually for the initial phase of the National Space Mission for Earth Observation. An additional $37.4 million was earmarked through 2025-26 for the CSIRO Research Translation Start program. As a result, the growing investments in space research are boosting the infrared telescope market.

Key companies in the infrared telescope industry are developing new products, such as infrared space telescopes, to extend observation capabilities and provide valuable cosmological data. These telescopes are specifically built to function in space and observe in the infrared spectrum. For example, in March 2025, NASA, the United States space agency, launched SPHEREx, an infrared space telescope. SPHEREx aims to complete an all-sky survey in near-infrared light, delivering a wide-angle cosmic view. It will study over 300 million galaxies and 100 million stars. This mission is intended to shed light on the universe’s origin, galaxy formation, and the presence of water and organic molecules in interstellar space.

In February 2025, OurSky, a U.S.-based space technology firm, merged with PlaneWave Instruments for an undisclosed sum. The merger brought together OurSky’s cutting-edge space observation software with PlaneWave Instruments’ high-precision telescope systems to establish Observable Space, a new company offering comprehensive space solutions like software-defined telescopes and space data analytics. PlaneWave Instruments is a U.S.-based manufacturer of advanced telescopes and observatory platforms, including infrared telescope systems.

Major players in the infrared telescope market are Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., SKF, Olympus Corporation, Elbit Systems Ltd., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Hexagon AB, Zhejiang Dali Technology Co. Ltd., Allied Vision Technologies GmbH, Advanced IR Optics Inc., VIGO Photonics, Princeton Infrared Technologies Inc., InfraRed Associates Inc., Princeton Infrared Technologies, Satlantis Microsats SA.

North America was the largest region in the infrared telescope market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in infrared telescope report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the infrared telescope market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

An infrared telescope is an instrument designed to detect infrared radiation (heat) emitted by celestial bodies, enabling astronomers to study stars, galaxies, and other phenomena that are either cool or obscured by interstellar dust. These telescopes are typically placed in space or at high altitudes to minimize atmospheric interference.

The primary types of infrared telescopes are ground-based telescopes and space-based telescopes. Ground-based telescopes are positioned on the Earth’s surface and utilize adaptive optics and other advanced technologies to observe celestial objects through the atmosphere. These systems comprise various components, including optical elements, detectors, cooling units, mounting structures, and software and control systems. They incorporate a range of technologies such as photonic detectors, quantum detectors, and thermo-dynamic detectors. Infrared telescopes are applied in numerous fields, including astronomy and astrophysics, space exploration, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and defense and surveillance. They are used by a broad spectrum of end users, including research institutions, government agencies, universities and educational institutions, private companies, and aerospace and defense organizations.

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

The infrared telescope market consists of sales of thermal imaging telescope systems, portable infrared astronomy kits, cooled infrared detectors, and spectrometers. 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 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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