High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons Market Report 2025

The high power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.1 billion in 2024 to $2.31 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth during the historic period can be linked to rising defense budgets, escalating geopolitical tensions, increased demand for precision targeting, the need to counter drones, and the pursuit of cost-effective defense solutions.

The high power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.33 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. The growth expected in the forecast period is driven by increasing threats from unmanned systems, a rising demand for area denial capabilities, emphasis on multi-domain operations, the need for rapid target neutralization, and ongoing defense modernization efforts. Key trends during this period include integration with autonomous platforms, advancements in solid-state power amplifiers, development of compact pulse power modules, improvements in beam steering technologies, the application of artificial intelligence for targeting, and the design of modular and scalable weapons.

The growing security threats are expected to drive the expansion of the high power microwave directed energy weapons market in the future. Security threats encompass potential dangers or malicious actions that can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data, systems, or networks, including cyberattacks, unauthorized access, insider threats, migrant encounters, and physical breaches. These threats are escalating due to increasing geopolitical tensions and cross-border conflicts, which raise the likelihood of unauthorized movements, smuggling, and militant infiltration. High power microwave directed energy weapons address these security challenges by disabling electronic systems in drones, missiles, and other hostile technologies. They provide precise, non-lethal engagement capabilities that minimize collateral damage. Their rapid-response and scalable deployment features make them well-suited for modern defense strategies, especially in counter-swarm and electronic warfare situations. For example, in October 2024, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a federal agency, reported that migrant encounters along the U.S.-Canada border increased to over 181,000 in FY 2024, up from 170,000 in FY 2023. Thus, rising security threats are fueling growth in the high power microwave directed energy weapons market.

The rising defense budgets are projected to boost the growth of the high power microwave directed energy weapons market moving forward. Defense budgets represent the total government expenditure on military personnel, equipment, operations, and related defense activities aimed at ensuring national security. These budgets are increasing due to escalating geopolitical tensions, which motivate countries to strengthen military capabilities for deterrence and strategic security. Higher defense budgets support the development of high power microwave directed energy weapons by enabling greater investment in advanced research and development. This funding aids in creating more powerful, accurate, and reliable systems, enhancing battlefield performance. For instance, in April 2023, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based research organization, reported that Russian military spending rose by 9.2% to approximately $86.4 billion in 2022, accounting for 4.1% of the country’s GDP, up from 3.7% in 2021. Therefore, the increase in defense budgets is driving growth in the high power microwave directed energy weapons market.

Leading companies in the high-power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons (DEW) market are concentrating on developing advanced solutions such as drone swarm countermeasures to improve operational efficiency, enhance precision, and reduce dependence on kinetic methods. Drone swarm countermeasures are HPM systems designed to disable or destroy multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) simultaneously by disrupting their electronic components with focused microwave energy. For example, in April 2025, Thales S.A., a France-based defense and aerospace firm, introduced the RapidDestroyer high-power microwave (HPM) system during British Army trials. The system successfully neutralized over 40 drones in various swarm scenarios, demonstrating its capability to offer fast and cost-effective defense against UAV threats. RapidDestroyer features a modular high-power microwave system engineered to counter drone swarms by disabling their electronics without causing physical damage, thereby reducing collateral harm. It integrates smoothly with existing air defense networks and is optimized for electronic warfare and precise counter-swarm operations.

Major players in the high power microwave directed energy weapons market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings Inc., Teledyne Technologies Inc., Coherent Corp., Elbit Systems Ltd., Skyworks Solutions Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Radiance Technologies Inc., Epirus Inc., Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG, Tata Advanced Systems, Applied Research Associates Inc., GMKA Defense Inc., and Lumentum Operations LLC.

North America was the largest region in the high power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in high power microwave directed energy weapons report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the high power microwave directed energy weapons 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.

High power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons are systems that emit focused microwave radiation to disable or destroy electronic devices and systems without any physical contact. These weapons use high-intensity electromagnetic pulses to target electronics, leading to malfunctions or permanent damage. Their primary goal is to neutralize enemy communications, radar, or control systems while causing minimal collateral damage.

The main categories of high power microwave directed energy weapons include continuous-wave and pulsed-wave systems. Continuous-wave high power microwave weapons involve the constant, uninterrupted emission of microwave energy designed to disrupt or damage electronic systems over a period of time. These weapons are deployed as fixed installations, mobile units, or portable systems. The technologies involved encompass high power microwave generators, amplifiers, and antennas. Applications of these weapons include disruption of community systems, radar systems, electronic devices, and more, with primary users in the army, navy, and air force sectors.

The high power microwave directed energy weapons market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides high power microwave directed energy weapons market statistics, including high power microwave directed energy weapons industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a high power microwave directed energy weapons market share, detailed high power microwave directed energy weapons market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the high power microwave directed energy weapons industry. This high power microwave directed energy weapons 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.

The high power microwave directed energy weapons market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as system integration, weapon system testing and evaluation, maintenance and upgrades, operator training, and research and development for advanced high power microwave technologies. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The high power microwave directed energy weapons market also includes sales of high power microwave (HPM) generators, directed energy weapon platforms, power management systems, beam control systems, targeting and tracking systems, and mobile or fixed deployment units. 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 and 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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